Prominent child psychiatrist Jillian Spencer is being investigated by the national health regulator after she shared on social media an article from The Australian that quoted her concerns about gender-affirming medical treatment for children.
Dr Spencer has been told by the Health Ombudsman that it is referring a complaint against her to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency after a notification that her post “criticised gender affirming care and encouraged followers to petition against it”.
The threat to Dr Spencer’s medical registration is the latest in a series of moves by AHPRA against medical professionals who have spoken out publicly against gender-affirming treatment for minors.
The Health Ombudsman claims Dr Spencer’s post on social media platform X “has garnered significant attention, heightening the notifier’s fear for their safety”.
In a post on Tuesday Dr Spencer wrote: “This is how it works: I shared a mainstream newspaper article on X and now AHPRA will try to take my registration.”
The investigation – which could result in Dr Spencer losing her medical registration – comes just weeks after Queensland psychiatrist Andrew Amos was banned from posting his objections to gender-affirming care on social media.
Dr Amos was also barred from having direct clinical contact with any patients.
Supporters of Dr Spencer and Dr Amos say the investigations and penalties represent a gross overreach by regulators in response to complaints by trans activists and a serious threat to free speech by the medical profession.
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