Doctor barred after anti-gay, Islam and Chinese comments

A Melbourne doctor who demeaned LGBTQI+ people, Muslims and Chinese people on social media has had his registration cancelled.

Michael Ellis already copped a suspension in 2020, but the matter escalated to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

The tribunal has now upheld the findings that Mr Ellis demeaned members of the LGBTQI+ community, and people of Islamic faith and Chinese heritage, and espoused vaccine, chemotherapy and Covid-19 views that had no proper clinical basis and conflicted with accepted medical practice.

Mr Ellis posted to social media that “gaydom” was being put ahead of “normal family values”. The English-born former doctor also said “the Chinese” were taking over Australia.

The tribunal decision notes his comments “contain deliberate echoes of the views of people like Pauline Hanson” and the One Nation MP’s “swamped by Asians” maiden senate speech.

Mr Ellis produced “supportive references suggesting the conduct was out of character and inconsistent with his compassionate care for his patients”, the tribunal noted.

The social media posts spanned 2017 to 2020 and included disparaging comments about his own workplace, colleagues, and other health services and practitioners.

Mr Ellis expressed horrid views, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal found.

“The views that Mr Ellis expresses in his posts about the lesbian, gay, and transgender communities, Muslims and people of Chinese heritage are quite abhorrent,” the tribunal said.

“It is easy to see that a gay patient who saw his posts would feel concerned that they could not reveal their sexuality to him, potentially comprising their health and safety.

“Similarly, it can be inferred that patients of Islamic faith or Chinese heritage would be reticent in seeing a doctor who willingly expresses negative comments about their communities.”

The tribunal found Mr Ellis also frequently left the door open during patient consultations, and people in the waiting room could hear what was being said.

In September 2019, the clinic he was working at terminated his contractor agreement; about three weeks later Mr Ellis variously labelled the clinic and its staff “dysfunctional”, “run by money hungry owners” and “like ‘Nazis’ following orders with no conception of the doctor patient relationship”.

“Has a practice manager who is an Orwellian battle axe who constantly surveys medical notes for signs of misdemeanour,” Mr Ellis said online of his former employer.

“20% OF PATIENTS WHO GO INTO HOSOITSL (sic) COME OUT WORSE OR DO NOT COME OUT AT ALL AS THE DOCTORS AND MEDICAL TREATMENT KILL THEM!!!!!!” is another of his posts.

“HOSPITALS ARE DEATH CHAMBERS THEY TREAT PATIENTS AS DISEASES AND ANIMALS ON A CONVEYOR BELT,” he posted.

Mr Ellis also acted in contravention of the Australian medical practice code of conduct principle that says “doctors are expected to recognise and respect patients’ rights to make their own decisions, treat their patients with respect at all times and protect patients’ privacy and right to confidentiality”, the tribunal found.

Mr Ellis has been prohibited from using the title of doctor, had his medical practitioner registration cancelled and he cannot reapply until early 2025.

He cannot provide any health service until he is re-registered, if that happens.

Mr Ellis’ lawyer, Ian Freckelton KC, said his client wanted to return to medicine.

“He has had a lengthy and committed career as a medical practitioner and looks forward to resuming practice and providing care to his patients,” Mr Freckelton told NewsWire.

Medical Board of Australia chair Anne Tonkin said the board set professional standards for doctors that aimed to keep patients safe.

“Our code of conduct is very clear about the importance of dignity and respect in medical practice. In this case, there was a big gap between the standards we expect and this doctor’s social media activity and his conduct with some patients,” Dr Tonkin said.

“We are pleased the tribunal agrees that this gap is not acceptable.”