Should health professionals be free to share their political opinions in the same way that the public is? New poll sheds some light on how doctors feel…

Forty three percent of GPs say doctors should be able to legitimately engage in political discourse without risking their job, and 38% feel that AHPRA should not be permitted to scrutinise the political views of health professionals, a Healthed survey of 1400 GPs found.

But only about one in five GPs disagree with the regulator’s policy of holding health professionals to a higher standard than the general public, the survey found.

Post at your own peril…

The survey comes after “concerning reports” from multiple GPs who received complaints after expressing their views on the conflict in Gaza on social media prompted a letter from RACGP president Dr Michael Wright to AHPRA earlier this month.

Dr Wright asked the regulator to clarify its social media policy and fast-track its assessment of complaints.

According to the GPs “complaints are taking several months to investigate, despite ultimately resulting in no disciplinary action being taken against the practitioner,” Dr Wright wrote.

AHPRA has not responded in detail yet, except to say it received Dr Wright’s letter, is carefully reviewing social media use, and expects “to be able to respond to individual concerns quickly.”

Meanwhile, emergency physician and former AMA vice president Dr Stephen Parnis stepped down from his role as chair of the Medical Insurance Group of Australia (Miga) board this month, alluding to comments he has made on social media opposing the war in Gaza.

“I have exercised my right as an individual to comment on matters in the public domain based on my own views and conscience,” he wrote in his resignation letter, explaining that Miga would be reviewing its social media policy.

Neither Dr Parnis nor Miga have been specific about the circumstances surrounding the move, but his public criticism of Israel and support for Palestine has been implicated.

Several GPs in the survey commented that so long as health professionals treat their patients professionally and with respect, they should be permitted to voice their personal opinions.

“AHPRA needs to avoid disproportionate investigation of views held outside clinical environment unless there is a report of its impacting health care delivery, especially if it targets specific groups,” is how one GP put it.

Lawyer and former AHPRA investigator turned compliance trainer David Gardner said that while it is permitted to criticise a government or political group as long as it’s “accurate and appropriate,” you need to be aware that you might get a complaint.

“You need to go in with your eyes open, knowing that it’s higher risk, and you need to be very careful and very measured and accurate in what you say,” he said.

What your colleagues are saying

“AHPRA used to be about the maintenance of standards of medical practice. It seems to me that they are now the moral guardians and guardians of the reputation of the profession. AHPRA is held in as much fear as the Inquisition used to be. They appear to have absolute power, and we all know where that leads.”

“As long as the doctors are providing a good service to their patients irrelevant of the patients background, there shouldn’t be any interference in the doctor’s political views, freedom of speech or expression.”

“Comments which identify the speaker as a doctor should hold to professional standards of conduct and respect.”

“Doctors should be held to a higher standard and should not (on social media or anywhere on the internet) make statements that are discriminatory or hateful regarding race, religion or sexuality or toward any other group. We are obliged to treat even persons who have committed heinous crimes. Whatever our personal views, we must uphold values of decency and ethical behaviour toward our patients, whoever they may be, even if those around us are doing the opposite.”

“AHPRA should stick to their knitting, and get rid of genuine bad apples, not behave as Big Brother pursuing thought crimes. At the same time, GPs should keep politics out of their clinical practice, and the Medical Board should stop politicising our CPD requirements.”

“Complaints should be investigated in a timely manner and the doctor should be informed in a timely manner of the process; as well they should be kept up to date with the process.”

“Discriminatory behaviour is contrary to all ethical and moral obligations we have by oath and expectation. Obviously, the extent and intent of the involvement should be investigated.”

“I believe AHPRA is over-involved in matters that go beyond medical practice. Regulating doctors’ personal political views expressed on social media feels like an overreach.”

“What have our political views got to do with patient safety?”

“As long as the person is caring and not affecting patients professionally, then I believe their personal opinion is a freedom of speech.”