Australian Surgeon Faces Police Probe Over Organ Removal Allegations
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced that allegations aired by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) had been formally referred to Victoria Police, following an investigative report by the broadcaster's Four Corners program that alleged surgeon Simon Gordon repeatedly operated on patients diagnosed with what they were told was "severe" endometriosis — despite pathology results that did not support those diagnoses.
Among those affected, some patients had their ovaries removed while one woman underwent a full hysterectomy, according to the ABC report. Gynecologists who reviewed patient records told Four Corners that many of the procedures were unnecessary and, in certain cases, caused "more harm than good."
"A Crime" — Premier Pulls No Punches
Allan issued a blunt warning to the medical community in her official statement: "Without commenting on the specific case, let me be clear: performing unnecessary surgery is a crime, removing a woman's organs without a clinical need is a crime, and assisting in that conduct is a crime." She added that victims "deserve justice" and that the state "demands answers."
Victoria Police confirmed receipt of the referral and stated it was actively assessing the information.
Years of Complaints, Years of Silence
The Four Corners report revealed that grievances against Gordon had been lodged over a five-year period with Epworth Private Hospital, the national medical regulator AHPRA, and Victoria's Healthcare Complaints Commission — raising pointed questions about institutional failures to act sooner.
Gordon, who retired following a request to take leave from Epworth in October, defended his conduct in a written statement, saying he never performed surgery unless he believed it was in a patient's best interests.
Systemic Reform on the Table
Beyond the criminal referral, Premier Allan signaled broader structural changes are coming. The government is moving to standardize diagnostic guidelines for endometriosis and is weighing the introduction of a "pink tick" certification system for clinicians who complete government-approved training — a measure aimed at preventing similar cases from emerging in the future.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
