The AMA will back the Medical Board of Australia permanently publishing doctors’ history of sexual boundary violations if they are found guilty of professional misconduct. 

But it has warned that publishing a doctor’s entire disciplinary history, including non-sexual matters, if they are found guilty of professional misconduct of a sexual nature would amount to punishment “in perpetuity” for potentially lesser offenses.

The RACGP, meanwhile, says it supports greater public transparency around histories of sexual misconduct “in principle” but wants clarity on what information will be included. 

The proposals come from health ministers responding to a Four Corners exposé on health practitioners returning to practise after being found guilty of boundary breaches.