The RACGP is calling for doctors to be given more detailed case studies on the sort of criminal behaviour which would lead the Medical Board of Australia to place conditions on their registration.

AHPRA has been consulting on changes to the standards used to assess whether a health practitioner with a criminal history is still fit to practise.

The college is concerned that the future of doctors convicted of offences as a result of protests and advocacy on issues like climate change and refugee detention may be at risk.

The current guiding principle for the medical board is whether a historical crime by a doctor is sufficient to put the public at risk or whether it could undermine the public’s confidence in the safety of doctors as a whole.