An outspoken GP and critic of government policies on COVID-19 has been ordered by the Medical Board of Australia to complete education on being courteous to fellow doctors on social media.

Dr David Berger has argued strongly for tougher pandemic controls and better PPE for healthcare workers primarily through his high-profile Twitter account that has 35,000 followers. 

But, after what is believed to be an anonymous complaint about his tweets, the board ordered he complete education “in relation to behaving professionally and courteously to colleagues and other practitioners including when using social media”. 

Last week doctors and researchers, including former AMA WA president Dr Andrew Miller, came out in defence of Dr Berger, who works as a locum in emergency settings in rural and remote locations.