At first Bruce believed a real emergency was coming. But the more he read, the more he came to the view that lockdowns wouldn't work, that masks weren't effective, and that children faced very little risk while carrying the economic fallout for years to come. When the injections arrived, he looked into how they worked and concluded the risks were serious and the protection short-lived, with young people being asked to take those risks "to protect grandma."

He issued mask and vaccine exemptions, but only after proper 30-minute consultations covering history, examination, risks and benefits. The Chief Health Officer threw all of them out, which Bruce saw as a gross intrusion into the doctor-patient relationship. He also wrote scripts for hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, and when pharmacies refused to fill them, he published guidance on converting veterinary ivermectin for human use. He knew it was safe, having been given it himself by the Australian Army at the end of tours in the tropics.

As one of the few doctors willing to speak out, he built a sizeable following, and the pressure soon followed. Guards were posted at his hospital's staff entrance to check vaccination status, and he lost his job. The RAAF told him to stop warning young service members or leave, so he left, with his resignation accepted over the phone after 20 years of service. His fire brigade of 25 years labelled him a "reputational risk." AHPRA, the national medical regulator, also opened an investigation.

Police later visited his home for what was described as a "friendly chat", which he filmed and shared online, where it was viewed more than 100,000 times. He was then charged with vehicular assault after a protest. Bruce spent a week in jail, a year on bail and three days in criminal court, and paid $25,000 in legal costs, before his own video footage of the incident saw him cleared. Without it, he faced up to 10 years in prison.

Today Bruce is no longer practising. He sold his house and lives simply in the country, and says his most important job now is helping his children navigate the years ahead. His family stood with him throughout. His circle of friends is smaller these days, but in his words, of much higher quality. You can read his story in his own words on his Substack, 32 Years a Doctor.