Dear Minister Nicholls,
Re: Support for Dr Jillian Spencer – Ensuring Clinical Freedom, Patient Safety, and Fair Treatment
I write with concern and respect regarding the recent termination notice issued to Dr Jillian Spencer, a senior child and adolescent psychiatrist at Queensland Children’s Hospital. It is deeply troubling that Dr Spencer has faced professional sanctions—including suspension, standing down, and now termination—simply for raising legitimate clinical, ethical, and safeguarding concerns about current gender affirmation practices for children and adolescents.
Dr Spencer has consistently voiced concern about the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones in minors without adequate psychological assessment and oversight. She has also raised concerns about what she perceives as an ideological culture influencing medical practice, such as the mandated use of preferred gender pronouns, rainbow lanyards, and pride signage in clinical settings.
Rather than being supported for raising such issues, Dr Spencer has been subjected to ongoing disciplinary actions. She was suspended in April 2023 after raising these concerns, issued with show cause notices over professional criticisms, and has now been served a termination notice by Queensland Health. This treatment of a senior clinician, with decades of experience, raises serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and freedom of professional judgment in the medical system.
Dr Spencer’s warnings are supported by many within the medical, legal, and human rights communities. A parliamentary petition calling for her reinstatement has already been launched. Political voices, including the Family First Party, have urged her reinstatement, while legal complaints have been lodged with the Human Rights Commission alleging discrimination and suppression of professional judgment.
Importantly, Dr Spencer’s concerns have been vindicated by policy and international developments. The Cass Review in the United Kingdom found the evidence for puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones in children to be extremely weak, prompting a decisive shift toward more cautious, evidence-based care. In Queensland, your government has already paused new prescriptions for puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones pending review. This directly acknowledges the risks and uncertainties Dr Spencer highlighted—risks including impaired bone health, brain development, fertility, and the irreversible consequences of such interventions.
In light of this, I respectfully urge you to act on the following: withdraw Dr Spencer’s termination notice and allow her to resume her role without prejudice; ensure protections for medical practitioners who raise safeguarding or ethical concerns; establish transparent and independent review processes for treatment protocols; and implement interim safeguards so that children and families are fully informed and appropriately supported before undergoing irreversible medical interventions.
Minister, Dr Jillian Spencer has demonstrated integrity, courage, and a steadfast commitment to the welfare of vulnerable children. Her warnings deserve to be heard and considered—not silenced or punished. Queensland Health must uphold principles of accountability, medical ethics, and child safeguarding, and I appeal to you to act decisively in Dr Spencer’s favour.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I stand with many others in asking you to ensure fairness for Dr Spencer, and to safeguard the health and wellbeing of children and families across Queensland.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Elizabeth Caballero (retired GP)
Director – Women Speak Tasmania