Background
Mackey was born at Richmond in Melbourne to commercial traveller Alphonsus Denis Mackey and Dulcie Edith, née Reid.
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Denis Mackey
Edit Profileeditor General medical practitioner
Education
He attended Catholic schools and studied medicine at the University of Melbourne.
Career
In 1963 he developed his own practice at Lindisfarne. He joined the General Practitioners" Society in 1973, serving as national vice-president from 1976 to 1979 and president from 1979 to 1981. He was editor of the Australian General Practice from 1974 to 1978 and assistant editor from 1978 to 1980.
Mackey was a strong supporter of private healthcare, opposing the introduction of Medibank and Medicare.
An opponent of community health centres, he toured the United States in 1977 speaking against socialised medicine. He refused money from both Medicare and the Department of Veterans" Affairs, requiring his patients to make their own claims.
In 1985 Mackey claimed that repetitive strain injury was being used by workers to claim unwarranted sick days, prompting a dispute with the Tasmanian Trades & Labor Council and the Federated Clerks" Union. Despite his vehemency he treated many patients for free.
The University of Tasmania awards an annual scholarship in his name.
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Born
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Died
January 8, 1990 (aged 55) -
Nationality
Australia