DISQUALIFIED FROM PRACTICING MEDICINE FOR EXPRESSING DEEPLY HELD RELIGIOUS VIEWS ON FACEBOOK

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Dr Jereth Kok Guilty of Professional Misconduct for Social Media Posts, Tribunal Rules, Kurt Mahlburg, 28 July 2025 NEWS

A landmark free speech case has found that Dr Jereth Kok’s Christian and conservative views disqualify him from medical practice, even though his social media posts weren’t directed at patients and most were shared with limited visibility.

In a 186-page ruling handed down last Tuesday, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) found that Dr Kok’s deeply held religious views, expressed on social media between 2008 and 2022, were sufficient grounds to indefinitely suspend him from the medical profession.

Dr Kok — who had no prior history of patient complaints or professional misconduct before his suspension — now faces a separate sanctions hearing in early 2026 that could result in the full cancellation of his medical license.

In Medical Board of Australia v Dr Jereth Kok, VCAT assessed 85 social media posts made by Dr Kok on topics ranging from abortion to same-sex marriage, sex change surgery for children, COVID-19 mandates and “conversion therapy” bans.

The Tribunal concluded that two-thirds of the posts “denigrated, demeaned and slurred” members of protected identity groups and other medical practitioners, and also contributed to vaccine hesitancy.

Featured among Dr Kok’s 54 incriminating posts were two articles from satirical news site The Babylon Bee, a Spectator Australia column authored by Moira Deeming, an open letter from the Australian Christian Lobby, an X post by children’s advocate Katy Faust, a link to the Ezekiel Declaration, comments left on Bill Muehlenberg’s website CultureWatch, and an article published at The Daily Declaration written by the author of this report.

Criticism of “Gender-Affirming Care” Penalised

Other posts cited in Dr Kok’s suspension took aim at so-called “gender-affirming care” — a protocol that can result in chemical and surgical castration, and that remains the subject of growing controversy and regulatory pushback around the world.

One involved a non-public Facebook repost of an article from The Spectator Australia, written by Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming and titled, “The cultural juggernaut of transgender ideology: not kids’ stuff”.

The Tribunal ruled that, by sharing Deeming’s article, Dr Kok “failed to behave professionally and courteously to other medical practitioners, as it referred to medical practitioners involved in the treatment of gender dysphoria as ‘mad scientists’ and engaging in transgender ideology”.

Another post, also shared with limited visibility, was a link to the Australian Christian Lobby’s “Open Letter to the Hon Daniel Andrews, Premier of Victoria”, to which Dr Kok added his own commentary:

Attention Victorian parents. One part of the diabolical ‘conversion or suppression’ bill that has received comparatively less attention: parents who try to STOP their child being sent away for bodily disfigurement will be charged with domestic violence. Yes, you read that right. Standing in the way of permanent bodily injury = violence. Sign this open letter to the Premier.

VCAT ruled that this post “failed to respect gender diversity” and was “denigrating, demeaning, disrespectful and derogatory to LGBTQI+ persons as it indicates that treatment for gender dysphoria is bodily disfigurement”.

Another post cited in the suspension of Dr Kok’s medical registration was an article he authored at Eternity News, formerly Australia’s flagship evangelical news website, titled “A Medical Perspective on Transgender”.

In ruling against Dr Kok, the Tribunal rejected his argument during cross-examination that gender dysphoria is a pathological or delusional belief analogous to other mistaken self-perceptions like anorexia nervosa. It also dismissed his claim that transgender identities are often shaped more by cultural trends and personal choice than irresistible feelings.

Jesus told us that in the last days persecution of Christians will increase because we hold to God’s values. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) found that Dr Kok’s deeply held religious views, expressed on social media between 2008 and 2022, were sufficient grounds to indefinitely suspend him from the medical profession.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:9-14

CHINA’S INTENSIFIED PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS

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We’ve previously heard declarations for unregistered churches to come into line with the official state church. In practice, this has meant, “Conform or at least shut up.” Enforcement was random and highly dependent on the will of the local party cadre. The understood agreement between local authorities and church leaders was this: “Don’t make us lose face and we’ll leave you alone.”

That’s not the current situation. The plan itself is more specific and comprehensive in scope. Since the government announced its intention to Sinicize religion, we’ve seen leaders implement the policies with far more breadth and aggression. In other words, there has been much more “follow-through” than in previous years.

Cameras have been installed in churches. Arrests have increased. A curriculum to “re-train” pastors has been written. Even the biggest churches have not been able to avoid conflict. Authorities also have plans to re-translate the Bible to suit their purposes.

As various outlets have reported, the government in Guangzhou is now ready to pay people to snitch on people who are engaged in religious activities deemed illegal (e.g., house churches, theological training, etc.). The government has even cooperated with other South Asian countries in order to track the activities of Christians who have ties to the Mainland.

While the government has always been sensitive about foreigners interacting with minority groups, it has taken more extensive measures in the past year. In Kunming, for instance, leaders have expelled or pressured out a substantial number (perhaps most) of the missionaries in the area, including entire organizations.

The rhetoric has changed a bit as well. Specifically, official propaganda is much more “anti-Western” than in previous campaigns. Sinicization is portrayed as a struggle against the oppression and imperialism of Western powers, especially the United States.

In a recent speech, Xu Xiaohong, Chairman of the Chinese Christian Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee, stated,

In modern times, Christianity was introduced to China on a large scale along with colonial aggression by Western powers. It was called “foreign religion.” The churches anywhere in our country were merely the result of Western missions and “Christianity in China.” Many believers lack national consciousness, so people say: “One more Christian is one less Chinese.” The occurrence of many teaching plans, especially the “Boxer Movement” and the “non-Christian movement”, prompted the church to create a “self-reliance movement.”

Sinicization is the brainchild of China’s highest political authorities. Given the fact that President Xi is no longer restricted by term limits, we have little reason to expect pressure to let up when he leaves office. He will be around long enough to see the process through.

What we are seeing in China and the rest of the world is the prophesied escalating “end times” tribulation being carried out by people controlled by Satan and his minions. Christians should not be taken by surprise as Jesus warned us beforehand. More importantly, we need to be obedient to his command to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ to the whole world. Jesus is coming back and He and the Saints will rule and reign on this earth for 1000 years.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:9-14

The Millennial Kingdom is a transition period when God fulfills the covenants He made with Abraham and David. God promised a descendant of David, Jesus will rule the nations from a restored Jerusalem.

“And the Lord has declared today that you are a people for His treasured possession, as He has promised you, and that you are to keep all His commandments, and that He will set you in praise and in fame and in honor high above all nations that He has made, and that you shall be a people holy to the Lord your God, as He promised.” Deuteronomy 26:18-19