Political advocacy in health care discussed after alleged antisemitism

Political advocacy's place in health care questioned at antisemitism inquiryPosted Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 12:48pmWed 29 Jul 2026 at 12:48pm, updated Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 12:53pmWed 29 Jul 2026 at 12:53pmAdam Gordon (left) and Jack Green (right) say political advocacy has no place in the healthcare system. (ABC News)In short:Medical practitioners speaking at the antisemitism royal commission have discussed the presence of political advocacy within health care.A Victorian gastroenterologist says some Jewish and Israeli patients have lost trust in the system.He told the inquiry people asked whether it was safe to go to hospital, in the wake of the war in Gaza and alleged antisemitism.Medical practitioners should be prohibited from wearing political pins to prevent patients from feeling unsafe, the royal commission on antisemitism has heard.The experience of Jewish and Israeli patients and healthcare workers is being explored at the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion this week.Victorian gastroenterologist Adam Gordon said some had lost trust in the healthcare system in the wake of the war in Gaza and incidents of alleged antisemitism in hospitals."I have people ask me, 'Am I safe going to the hospital?'" he said."Patients are in a very vulnerable position, and particularly patients who are having procedures, they're essentially unconscious, they're under an anaesthetic and they're worried about what's going to happen to them."I have never been asked a question along those lines before October 7, 2023."'Fractures the doctor-patient relationship'Dr Gordon said political advocacy had no place in the healthcare sector, and recommended a nationwide ban on medical practitioners and health staff wearing symbols including flag pins."There shouldn't be this additional concern placed on patients about where they fit in the political advocacy of the day," he said."Health care should be a sacred space."Victorian dermatologist Jack Green said visible symbols of political advocacy "fractures the doctor-patient relationship"."As medical practitioners to maintain trust in our system … there are restrictions compared to other work environments because of that trust, because of that power differential between the medical practitioner and the patient," he said.