David Macintosh 5 A lifetime in medicine, guided by empathy, inquiry, and integrity

Dr. David Macintosh is an orthopaedic surgeon, ethicist, and educator whose career has spanned more than five decades across Australia and the Pacific. Blending the precision of surgery with a lifelong curiosity about the moral dimensions of medicine, he has dedicated his life to exploring what it truly means to earn—and sustain—trust between doctor and patient.

A graduate of the University of Melbourne, Dr Macintosh trained in surgery in Edinburgh, London, and Melbourne before going on to lead orthopaedic departments at some of Australia’s most respected hospitals. His work has taken him from major metropolitan centres to remote communities through the Royal Flying Doctor Service and teaching missions in Papua New Guinea, where he helped train local surgeons and nurses.

Equally passionate about the ethics of care, he later earned a Master of Bioethics and a PhD from Monash University, where his research examined trust, betrayal, and the emotional foundations of the healing relationship. His insights have shaped both clinical practice and medical education, influencing how future doctors are taught to balance skill with empathy.

As Associate Professor of Ethics and Professional Development at James Cook University, Dr Macintosh developed courses that connected philosophical reflection with real-world challenges. His commitment to underserved populations and Indigenous health has informed national policy and inspired generations of practitioners to view medicine not just as a science, but as a moral craft.

Dr. Macintosh has published widely in both surgical and ethical journals and is the author of several books, including Trust and Betrayal: Morality and the Emotions in Surgery (2016), Trust in the Tribe (2025), and Trustworthiness: The Missing Link in Medical Ethics (2025).