Suspended doctor says he told truth about COVID

A doctor suspended over allegations he wrote fake COVID-19 exemptions and shared misleading information about the virus insists he told the truth about vaccines and their risks. Disciplinary proceedings have begun between the Medical Board of Australia and Mark Hobart, with the Melbourne doctor maintaining he did nothing wrong. In a brief hearing at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, Dr Hobart applied on Monday to have the matter dismissed or struck out on the grounds it was "frivolous, vexatious, misconceived". He has filed a 27-page document setting out his submissions. Despite this, his application to have the matter dismissed was denied. A mention for those proceedings is expected to be held on August 16, with a three-day hearing expected to start early next year. Dr Hobart has been suspended since November 2021 based on eight allegations of misconduct, including issuing almost 600 COVID-19 vaccination and mask exemptions. Dr Hobart argues that the Board exceeded its jurisdictional powers in the matters, and says it cannot tell doctors what information they can or cannot provide to patients. He also claims he told the "truth to patients about vaccines" and complied with his duty of care, including the obligation to do no harm. Tribunal senior member Elisabeth Wentworth denied Dr Hobart's application to dismiss the matter, saying the allegations against him were serious. "This is not a frivolous proceeding," Ms Wentworth said in her written findings. She said the allegations raised important questions about a doctor's professional responsibility in relation to disease prevention and control. Victorians were subject to strict vaccination mandates and mask rules throughout the pandemic. Melbourne's metropolitan area was subject to six lockdowns of a cumulative 260-plus days in 2020 and 2021, giving the Victorian capital the dubious honour of being the most locked-down city in the world.