Heartbroken Father Calls for Senate Inquiry Into Doctor Suicides After Son’s Death

Introduction
A grieving father has called for a Senate inquiry into the alarming number of doctor suicides in Australia, following the death of his 30-year-old son — a registrar who took his own life while on sick leave in Newcastle. The case has reignited concerns over junior doctors’ working conditions, burnout, and the cultural barriers to speaking out about mental health in the medical profession.

Tragic Circumstances
The man, referred to as David to protect his family’s privacy, died in December 2020, just hours after a phone call about his return to work. His father said the loss was “heartbreaking” and preventable.
“This wonderful young man was no longer with us,” he said.

David, who had been working as a registrar in Newcastle, had previously raised concerns about patient safety and alleged bullying at Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital. According to his father, he was warned that his whistleblowing had left a “black mark” on his record and that he had “ruined his career.”

David later transferred to John Hunter Hospital, where he was denied annual leave despite having more than 11 weeks accrued. After taking stress leave, he returned to work just before Christmas 2020 — only to be assigned to night shifts against medical advice. He resumed sick leave days later and took his life after two phone calls from hospital staff regarding his return-to-work plan.

A System Under Pressure
An ABC investigation has verified at least 13 doctor suicides across NSW, Victoria, Queensland, and the ACT since 2016. Five of these deaths occurred within the Hunter New England Health District.

Junior medical officers (JMOs) describe enduring excessive hours, chronic fatigue, and restricted access to leave. Some have reported working 12 consecutive days or 13-day fortnights, while others said they were rostered on-call for up to 72 hours straight.

Dr Tom Morrison from the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation said these practices create serious safety risks:
“You cannot perform at your best when you are under incredible stress and fatigue. There’s a reason bus drivers have fatigue limits.”

A Culture of Silence
David’s father said his son faced isolation and punishment for speaking out about patient safety concerns — a reflection, he believes, of a broader culture of fear and retribution.

“He was shunned by some of his superiors … it was all just too much for him,” he said.

After David’s death, his family received a written apology from hospital management acknowledging “incidents that may have diminished his wellbeing or increased his distress.”

Professor Jennifer Martin, president of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and a colleague of David’s, described his death as a “light-bulb moment” for reform.
“We cannot go on like this,” she said. “Standing up for junior doctors is difficult, but it’s essential.”

Push for a Senate Inquiry
David’s father is now calling for a Senate inquiry into doctor suicides to expose systemic issues and compel political accountability.
“It would put the onus on politicians who control the system’s funding. It makes them change,” he said.

Dr Morrison supported the call, saying the NSW health system faces “deep cultural problems.”
“It shouldn’t cost you your life to do this work,” he said.

Professor Martin said an inquiry would allow healthcare workers to speak freely under parliamentary privilege:
“People fear being marked as difficult or losing their jobs — parliamentary protection could finally give them a voice.”

Government and Hospital Responses
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler expressed condolences but stopped short of endorsing an inquiry. He said the government is pursuing national reforms to reduce burnout and strengthen workplace leadership across the health sector.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park acknowledged the need for safer, more compassionate workplaces:
“We owe it to our doctors, in all stages of their careers, to foster workplaces that value wellbeing, compassion, and balance.”

Both John Hunter Hospital and Calvary Mater Newcastle declined interview requests but said they have since increased staffing, improved rostering, and expanded wellbeing programs for junior doctors.

A Growing Toll
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners says the true number of suicides may be far higher than reported. A 2023 AHPRA study found 16 healthcare practitioners died by suicide between 2018 and 2021, with four more recorded instances of attempted suicide or self-harm.

Hunter-based physician Dr Eliza Milliken said she has personally known six doctors who took their own lives.
“There is an urgent need for safer workplaces and greater flexibility,” she said.

Conclusion
David’s story has become a catalyst for change in how Australia confronts the mental health crisis among its medical workforce. As families and colleagues continue to push for reform, advocates say only a full parliamentary inquiry can uncover the cultural, structural, and systemic failures costing doctors their lives.