A medical practitioner, Jereth Kok, remains banned from practising medicine after being found guilty of professional misconduct due to his extensive online anti-abortion rhetoric. Since his suspension in 2019, Kok has made derogatory comments about health professionals who perform abortions, referring to them as “butchers” and “contract killers,” while equating abortion to murder. He has also expressed views on transgender issues, labelling them as mental health problems, and has made racist remarks concerning Chinese communities and Islam.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal upheld Kok’s suspension, stating that his posts, which occurred between 2010 and 2021 on social media and forums, were unprofessional, disrespectful, and not sufficiently balanced, despite acknowledging their political and religious context. Kok defended his remarks as satirical and out of context, arguing he was entitled to express his beliefs on a Christian platform.
The tribunal scrutinised Kok’s comment that labelled a Melbourne hospital as a “baby-killing facility,” interpreting this as a slur against medical personnel dedicated to providing abortion services. He acknowledged the discourteous nature of his statement but maintained it was part of a wider debate on his beliefs about abortion.
Further derogatory language included characterisations of doctors as “butchers” in relation to abortions, which Kok indicated he would avoid in the future, although he expressed a moral obligation as a Christian to voice his opinions on abortion. He similarly described the treatment of gender dysphoria as “medical butchery” and denigrated various medical practitioners and public health directives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kok’s statements also included violent sentiments and discriminatory remarks towards racial, religious, and LGBTQI+ groups, as well as endorsing anti-vaccination views. His case will return to the tribunal for further administrative processes in September.
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