Is it really censorship when doctors face consequences for harmful posts?

No, it is accountability. When a psychiatrist publicly compares being trans to psychosis or misgenders colleagues, that is not just opinion, it is conduct that raises questions about whether they can treat trans people safely. Regulatory bodies exist to protect patients, not to police thoughts. Does that distinction make sense to you, or does it still feel unclear?

What happens if my doctor holds these kinds of views about trans people?

If they are posting them publicly and misgendering people, honestly, that is something a regulator needs to know about. It signals they may not be able to provide care without bias. You deserve professionals who see your identity as valid, not as pathology. Have you ever felt unsafe with a healthcare provider because of how they talk about trans people?

Transphobic posts, a psychiatrist, and professional accountability

Substack 5 March 2026

Psychiatrist faces restrictions over transphobic social media

When a healthcare professional uses their platform to compare trans identity to psychosis and publicly misgender a distinguished colleague, regulatory action is not silencing, it is accountability. The case of Dr Andrew Amos, who faced AHPRA restrictions over transphobic social media posts, draws a line medicine has always needed to draw: professional freedom does not extend to causing harm.

A recent case involving an Australian psychiatrist who faced AHPRA restrictions following transphobic social media posts raises important questions about professional accountability and free speech in healthcare. The psychiatrist had compared trans identity to psychosis and misgendered a distinguished academic, prompting regulatory action that some have characterised as silencing.

There is a meaningful difference between restricting someone's right to speak and holding healthcare professionals to standards of practice and conduct. When clinicians use their platforms to promote views that contradict current evidence and undermine the dignity of the people they may treat, questions about fitness to practise become relevant rather than matters of free expression.

The full article explores what happened, what it means for trans healthcare, and why these distinctions matter so much. Read on to understand more about professional responsibility and how regulatory bodies approach these complex situations.

In response to: Dr Andrew Amos: Australian Psychiatrist Handed AHPRA Restrictions Over Transphobic Social Media Posts (Substack)