In 2010, Dr Dinesh Palipana was involved in a car accident that left him with quadriplegia. Now working as an ER doctor, he has a greater appreciation for the inextricable importance of the law in supporting vulnerable persons in society, as well as his role in advocating for meaningful change. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Dr Dinesh Palipana, the 2021 Queensland Australian of the Year, to discuss his experiences in law school and subsequent mental health issues, his appreciation for the rule of law and its capacity to help fight for people, the car accident that left him wheelchair-bound and the physical and psychological aftermath of that accident, and how it has provided him with the opportunity to hopefully leave the world a better place. Dr Palipana also outlines the crux of his advocacy and what he is hoping to achieve – not just for persons living with disability, but more broadly – and how the rule of law can assist, how the age of coronavirus has reinforced existing issues in Australian society, and what his personal ambitions are moving forward (including becoming both a pilot and a barrister). If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

How quadriplegia provided lawyer-turned-doctor Dinesh Palipana the chance to leave the world a better place