Greg Malham, an outspoken neurosurgeon known for his criticism of vaccine mandates, recently was fired from his staff position at Warringal Private Hospital in Heidelberg, Melbourne. This decision comes on the heels of a year-long investigation by the BBC’s Four Corners program into Malham’s workplace conduct. Malham has resigned his post once again, the second time in just a few months. He had resigned from Epworth Private Hospital the previous year after an external investigation was launched there.
In April, this issue made national news when controversy blew up around Malham after an Instagram video of. The damning footage showed him pulling down an election corflute belonging to independent MP Monique Ryan. During that video, he said it’d be easier to bury a body under concrete, which should have made even more alarm bells go off about his behavior. The media allegations are completely against the values which underpin the service of Ramsay Health Care. This Victorian organisation, which is a registered not for profit, is the proud parent of Warringal Private Hospital.
Ramsay Health Care’s Commitment to Values
Following the investigation, Ramsay Health Care decided to double down. They reiterated their dedication to providing a respectful, inclusive and safe work environment for all employees and patients. Maree Mendola, a representative of Ramsay Health Care, stated, “The allegations raised in the media are serious and do not align with Ramsay’s values.” In addition, she called on all of their hospitals to adopt and strictly enforce their organization’s Code of Conduct. Beyond just taking public transit, they need to adopt The Ramsay Way values.
Ramsay Health Care president Owen Ung confronted misinformation along the way. He underscored that any behavior that puts patient safety at risk, or promotes discrimination and harassment, is simply intolerable. “As a college, we want to be clear: behaviour that undermines patient safety or fosters discrimination or harassment has no place in surgery,” he remarked. He further acknowledged that while most surgeons are dedicated professionals, unacceptable behavior by a minority can have severe consequences for individuals and trust in the profession.
Reactions from Former Patients
His recent firing has been broadly celebrated even by Malham’s patients. Animal welfare advocates Annie Sargood & Frédérick Le Guen celebrating the news that Ramsay Health Care surrendered its cruel plans to build a new monkey lab. Their support highlights how important accountability is to the future of medicine. Further, it demands the creation of a safe space wherein patients can feel safe.
As Ms. Mendola reiterated in this statement, Greg Malham is indeed exiting Ramsay Health Care. He’ll be missed as a member of the team. This termination was not limited to personal conduct. It plays upon our most basic instincts and raises grave questions about professional conduct and moral obligation within healthcare environments.
