When Caring Hurts: The Cost of Reporting Unwell GPs (ABC Melbourne Radio)

This morning on ABC Melbourne Radio, I joined the conversation hour with Richelle Hunt to discuss a topic that’s been quietly weighing on many in the medical profession: mandatory reporting of GPs with mental health issues.

The current system, designed to protect patients, requires health professionals to report colleagues if they believe their mental illness could impair their ability to practise safely. However, in practice, it often does more harm than good. And of note, whilst today's interview was about doctors, the same rules apply to all health practitioners in Australia.

We heard from a doctor who was reported after experiencing mental health difficulties. His story was striking — not because he was impaired or dangerous, but because the reporting process itself caused more distress than support. He described the drawbacks of being reported, including that it occurred after he was receiving help and on the mend. Unfortunately, his experience is not unique. Many doctors avoid seeking help entirely for fear that being open will trigger a regulatory investigation.

That’s the paradox: a system designed to keep patients safe may actually make doctors less safe—and less likely to seek care when they need it most.

I spoke about my own experience, which I describe in my book Mental.  Years ago, I went through a period of depression. I didn’t speak publicly about it at the time — not because I felt I couldn’t practise, but because I knew the stigma was real. Also, frankly, I’m not really the type to talk about my own emotions. I prefer to keep them in my own head, mostly. I took precautions: informed my boss, monitored my mental state, and set a personal deadline. If I wasn’t feeling better in three months, I’d seek help. And I did. Eventually, I decided to speak publicly. The result? Some discomfort, yes — but mostly warmth. Many people shared their own stories. It was a reminder that transparency, handled thoughtfully, can be powerful.

We also discussed something important: the benefits of doctors having lived experience with mental illness. It makes us more empathetic, more human, and often better clinicians. No one is asking for impaired doctors to continue working unsafely. However, having a mental health condition — like depression or anxiety — does not automatically make someone unfit to practise. In fact, it often makes them more aware of their own limits and more proactive about managing them.

So where did we land?

There's a place for mandatory reporting — we all agree on that. If a doctor is clearly impaired and refuses help, patients deserve protection. However, the threshold for reporting needs to change. A diagnosis shouldn't equate to danger. Moreover, a doctor who seeks help, takes safeguards, and practises safely shouldn't have to live in fear.

AHPRA — the regulatory body that oversees these reports — also requires reform. Numerous doctors describe the process as slow, traumatic, and lacking transparency. The goal should be timely, compassionate regulation — not a process that forces people underground.