Free speech. Hate speech. Cancelled speech. Who has the right to speak?

Can doctors who have never been involved in the research or use of new therapeutic products comment on them as ‘experts’, just on the basis of their medical qualifications?

We may be living in a so-called ‘post-truth world’, in which everyone’s personal opinion holds equal weight, but in our professional world, who holds the expertise and credibility in highly specialised areas?

How does the concept of expertise compare in the diverse worlds of the general community, the law, the medical community and the rarefied sub-specialties?

Merely holding a personal opinion is different to expressing it publicly (while using one’s credentials), or using it to advise patients.

Recently, there have been many issues exciting vigorous disagreement in the comment threads on the AusDoc website.