Planning for the future, learning from the past

This issue of the MJA covers figuratively and literally hot topics, with an underlying theme that learning from past experiences can only drive future improvements. For example, after decades of trials, three new Alzheimer disease medicines are undergoing an approval process in Australia, and patients, providers and the medical community need a plan on how to discuss the risks and benefits of their use if approved. Similarly, after decades of tracking the experiences of Australians, via Family Court disputes, Australia's largest longitudinal cohort study, or state health authorities’ emergency department data collections, authors in this issue make contributions to several heated debates, including transgender care dispute resolution, out-of-pocket care costs, and planning for heatwaves....