Australian GPs have been facing vexatious complaints to the health regulator, Ahpra, over their social media posts expressing views about Israel’s conflict in Gaza. Dr Michael Wright, the president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has written a letter to Ahpra expressing concern about these reports. The GPs who publicly criticized the treatment of civilians in Gaza received complaints for expressing their political opinions on social media. Although the doctor’s faced investigations, no disciplinary actions were taken.
RACGP has asked Ahpra to expedite the assessment and finalization of these types of complaints, citing the negative impact these prolonged investigations have on practitioner’s mental health. In joining the fight against these investigations, the RACGP insists that GPs should not be subject to scrutiny merely for exercising their right to freedom of speech.
This issue is not confined to the realm of health professionals, with high-profile physician Dr Stephen Parnis stepping down as the chair of the Medical Insurance Group of Australia (MIGA) following public backlash against his Gaza-related posts. Parnis’s decision has raised questions regarding whether medical insurers will defend their members against vexatious complaints.
Ahpra has stated that it is committed to fast-tracking these investigations, understanding the potential distress these incidents can cause to practitioners who have shown concern for the safety of people affected by conflicts in the Middle East.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/22/australian-doctorssubjected-to-vexatious-complaints-over-social-media-posts-on-gaza-peak-body-says
