From “The Courier Mail”
Whistleblower psychiatrist Jillian Spencer wins settlement in gender treatment dispute
Des Houghton
Psychiatrist Jillian Spencer who exposed transgender activism at the Queensland Children’s Hospital has been cleared of wrongdoing and paid a substantial settlement in a dramatic climb-down by Queensland Health.
“All disciplinary proceedings against Dr Spencer have been discontinued,” said a statement issued by Queensland Health.
Dr Spencer was suspended in 2023 after exposing transgender activism at the hospital’s gender clinic. She was repeatedly reprimanded by health chiefs who tried to silence her for warning against the dangers of puberty blockers and sex change hormones.
“All matters between the parties have been resolved by mutual agreement,” said the unsigned statement posted by Queensland Health on Friday.
“I’ve been exonerated,” Dr Spencer said.
“My name has been cleared, and I can hold my head high.”
Dr Spencer’s solicitor John Steenhof of Human Rights Law Alliance said a settlement acknowledged a doctors’ rights to “speak honestly about patient safety without fear of disciplinary retaliation.”
He added: “It is vindication for Dr Spencer and the concerns she had for the care of children.”
Mr Steenhoff said doctors could now practice “without being coerced into ideological positions”.
“It is the strongest statement ever from government that doctors need to exercise caution and ensure the best care possible to protect confused children,” he said.
Lawyers believe the settlement may embolden other whistleblowers right across the public service to speak out.
“Children’s Health Queensland acknowledges that these are matters of legitimate professional and public debate and that clinicians play an important role in raising concerns about patient safety and clinical practice,” the statement said.
Queensland Health went further, acknowledging the dangers of medical “interventions” when treating gender dysphoria.
“Dr Spencer has been a strong advocate for change in Queensland in the model of care for children and adolescents experiencing gender dysphoria,” the statement said.
“One of the features of the clinical approach that Dr Spencer has sought is the delay in medical interventions for such patients until adulthood, including puberty blockers and same-sex hormones, because they are serious decisions regarding their body and long-term health.
“Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Hospital and Health Service accepts that Dr Spencer’s concerns were grounded in her training and background as an experienced child and adolescent psychiatrist.”
Lawyers see the settlement as a rebuke to those health chiefs who attempted to oust Dr Spencer for speaking out. She has now left the hospital and works in private practice.
The statement referred to a directive from Health Minister Tim Nicholls in January last year to “temporary pause” puberty blockers and same-sex hormones. It added: “Children’s Health Queensland acknowledges that health practitioners must take a clinical approach to the treatment of gender dysphoria that focuses on the best available research and the child’s best interests rather than directing the child down a pre-determined treatment pathway.’’
In the unsigned statement, Children’s Health Queensland also acknowledged that undiagnosed mental illness may contribute to gender dysphoria.
“Health practitioners must employ a holistic clinical approach that comprehensively assesses all relevant factors - including any comorbidities or other mental health conditions _ and use the information gathered from to determine the best available mode or treatment and care for the patient.”
Lawyers said today’s statement represents a comprehensive victory for Dr Spencer who was described by her detractors as transphobic when she opposed the flying of pro-trans flags and posters at the hospital.
The statement also seems to reverse Queensland Health’s policy on the treatment of gender dysphoria.
Dr Spencer was first disciplined in 2022 and later threatened with the sack for speaking out and for questioning the “affirmation model”.
Court documents show she refused to retract.
Queensland Health has admitted it discriminated against Dr Spencer thus avoiding a two-week and Supreme Court trial set down for November where she was to challenge her dismissal notice.
That matter has now ceased, lawyers said.
Much of the legal wrangling behind the scenes remains a mystery, however.
“The terms of the resolution are confidential,” the statement said.
Children’s Health Queensland “wished Dr Spencer well in her future endeavours”.
Meanwhile, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has stopped its investigation into Dr Spencer’s for sharing social media posts critical of transgender ideology. That, too, was seen as another significant win against transgender activism.
Mr Nicholls declined to comment. He said it was an employment matter.