Dr. Jereth Kok, a Melbourne general practitioner, has been found guilty of professional misconduct by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) over a series of social media posts spanning nearly a decade. His medical license, suspended in 2019, remains revoked after the tribunal ruled that his online commentary violated professional standards.
The case against Dr. Kok originates from 54 social media posts in which he referred to abortion providers as “butchers” and “serial contract killers.” He described abortion as “massacres of babies” and labeled the Royal Women’s Hospital as “Melbourne’s premier publicly-funded, baby killing facility.” VCAT found that such language derogated medical professionals involved in abortions and breached ethical obligations.
Dr. Kok, who shared many of his posts on Christian platforms, acknowledged that some of his wording was “discourteous” but defended his right to express religious and moral beliefs. “I believe that aborting a baby is unjustly destroying the life of a vulnerable human, and can accurately be described as an act of killing,” he told the tribunal. While he pledged to avoid similar language in the future, he maintained that his faith compelled him to speak out.
The tribunal also scrutinized Dr. Kok’s comments on gender and sexuality, including his description of homosexuality as a disorder and sex change surgery as “medical butchery” and “sterilising disfigurement to healthy young bodies.”
Although VCAT recognized that some posts were political or religious rather than directly related to his medical practice, it emphasized that doctors must consider how their public statements reflect on the profession. “The boundary between a doctor’s personal and public profile can be blurred,” the tribunal noted. “As a doctor, you need to consider the effect of your public comments.”
The case has sparked debate, with Dr. Kok’s supporters arguing that the ruling suppresses free speech. Family First national director Lyle Shelton condemned the decision as “a gross injustice and a chilling attack on freedom of speech,” adding that Dr. Kok had harmed no patients and was penalized solely for expressing his views.
Dr. Kok, who removed many of the posts in question, reiterated his stance on gender identity, stating that he believes it is immoral to assist someone in changing their sex. The Human Rights Law Alliance, representing him, is considering an appeal. The case will return to VCAT for further proceedings in September.
