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| Australian Doctor | 18 August 2017
Anti-marriage equality
doctors take aim at AMA
GEIR O’ROURKE
THE AMA has hit back at
marriage equality oppo-
nents within its own ranks,
who claim the organisation
is putting “ideology over
science” by supporting same
sex marriage.
The doctor group came
out in favour of marriage
equality in a position state-
ment in May, citing “sig-
nificantly poorer health
outcomes” among LGBTIQ
people from discrimination
and prejudice.
But a former AMA Tas-
mania president, Dr Chris
Middleton, has quit in
response, alleging the AMA
had “strayed into social
activism and has mortgaged
its credibility”.
“It is not only the fact
that the position statement
is defective, but it shows
poor scholarship as well
and is backed up with really
poor evidence.”
The gastroenterologist is
The AMA has strayed into social activism, says Dr Middleton.
one of six doctors who have
set up a campaign website
that includes an 18-page cri-
tique calling on the AMA to
retract its statement.
Also in the group is Dr
Lachlan Dunjey, a WA GP
and former Christian Demo-
cratic Party Senate candidate
who was investigated by the
Medical Board of Australia
in 2012 for stating same sex
marriage was a health risk.
www.australiandoctor.com.au
When asked if he would
support marriage equality
if he was persuaded the evi-
dence showed it had positive
health benefits, Dr Middle-
ton said: “Even if there was
strong evidence of a positive
health outcome from gay
marriage, an AMA comment
would have to be balanced
and talk about the ratio of
risks and benefits of change.”
AMA
president
Dr
Michael Gannon said the
AMA carefully scrutinised
all the evidence.
“The
overwhelming
majority of the feedback
I have had from members
has been positive, and I
have personally been con-
tacted by a number of our
LGBTIQ members, as well
as heterosexual members,
who are very pleased at the
stance we have taken,” he
said.
Sydney GP and former
AMA president Professor
Kerryn Phelps, who has
long campaigned for mar-
riage equality, pointed to
“growing and irrefutable
evidence” of the harms
caused by discrimination.
“Discrimination
under
the law by exclusion of a
group of people from mar-
riage equality is a determi-
nant, and the AMA should
have a position on it just
as they do with smoking or
homelessness.”
13/06/2017 3:19 pm