A CommunityRun petition calling for a doctor featured in a same-sex marriage No Campaign ad to be deregistered has been removed for breaching the site’s terms and conditions.

The petition asked for a review of Dr Pansy Lai’s medical registration after she appeared in a Coalition for Marriage advertisement calling for a no vote in the upcoming same-sex marriage survey.

GetUp, who created the community petition platform, said it was removed after receiving dozens of complaints.

“Following the review, the petition was found to breach CommunityRun’s terms and conditions and was taken down on Monday morning,” a GetUp spokesman said.

Petitions listed on CommunityRun can be uploaded by anyone and are not run or endorsed by GetUp.

A GetUp spokesman said while the organisation was opposed to a same-sex marriage survey, it condemned personal attacks against individuals on either side of the campaign.

“GetUp does not support a petition targeting Dr Pansy Lai, which was uploaded over the weekend, nor did GetUp endorse or organise it,” he said.

AMA slams ‘inappropriate’ petition

The petition was addressed to the Australian Medical Association, which has criticised it as being inappropriate and concerning.

“Individuals should be able to express an opinion on a political matter, without being shouted down,” AMA President, Dr Michael Gannon said.

“Everyone’s entitled to an opinion and to call for someone to have their livelihood taken away, which is effectively what medical deregistration would mean to a doctor, is utterly inappropriate.”

Mr Gannon said the Medical Board of Australia, which is the registrational authority for doctors, would dismiss this complaint very quickly.

“Doctors, like other members of the community, are entitled to an opinion and that should be heard,” Dr Gannon said.

Dr Lai and the Coalition for Marriage have been contacted for comment.

– ABC