#video #Four Corners - Season 66 - Episode 04: Scarred
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Short filmTranscript
00:00This program contains references to suicide and vision of surgical procedures.
00:21I remember seeing younger girls in the waiting room.
00:24There was one young girl in particular.
00:26I didn't want him to fuck up her life too.
00:34Dr Simon Gordon sold himself as a top gynaecologist for endometriosis.
00:41I trusted Simon Gordon with my body.
00:44He took my finances and my trust in the system.
00:48Once the busiest laparoscopic surgeon at Melbourne's Epworth Private Hospital,
00:54Dr Gordon was notorious amongst his colleagues for performing aggressive surgeries on young women.
01:01There was no endometriosis found in the pathology report.
01:05I was shocked.
01:06I felt so violated.
01:08Simon Gordon has destroyed my life.
01:12It has completely changed from what it should have been at this time.
01:21Patients had tissue and reproductive organs taken out.
01:26The question is why.
01:29I had both my ovaries and my uterus removed by Simon Gordon by the time I was 25.
01:37Dr Gordon has been gynaecology's open secret.
01:40The medical regulator and management had been informed about him many times.
01:47I want them to understand that they could have put a stop to this so much earlier.
01:52I'm not sure I've seen a more distressing series of allegations about care.
01:58After a seven-month Four Corners investigation, doctors are speaking out for the first time.
02:05I hope this will be a changing point for us in medicine, where we do not blame the people that
02:12speak up.
02:13Why do you think this hasn't come out?
02:14I think most of us are scared.
02:17We've shared women's medical records with leading gynaecologists
02:22who were shocked by what they believe is unnecessary surgery.
02:26In this episode of Four Corners, we investigate a top Melbourne surgeon
02:32who repeatedly removed healthy tissue and organs from young women
02:38at Victoria's largest private hospital.
02:41Why didn't multiple complaints to the hospital and regulators stop him?
02:47And what lessons can be learned to prevent this from happening in the future?
03:03So, we'll just start off a bit.
03:05Almost like jump into that whole cross.
03:07Yeah.
03:10Beautiful.
03:11And again.
03:14Mary Spanos refuses to be a victim.
03:18She's fighting back.
03:20I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't come forward
03:23to try and prevent this from happening to other people.
03:26Mary was diagnosed with endometriosis,
03:30a disease affecting about one in seven Australian women,
03:35where cells similar to the lining of the uterus
03:38typically grow in other parts of a woman's pelvis,
03:42causing extreme pain and, in many women, infertility.
03:47Her first surgery was with another gynaecologist
03:51and she had superficial endometriosis at that point.
03:56But the surgery didn't make the pain that Mary had suffered for years go away.
04:02And in 2020, when she was 26,
04:06she decided to go and see Dr Simon Gordon.
04:11He was the person that was on all the Facebook groups,
04:15all of the, you know, Instagram pages that I followed.
04:18He was listed as one of the best in Melbourne.
04:22He was, honestly, in that appointment,
04:24one of the most charming people I've ever met.
04:28Simon Gordon advised Mary to have a laparoscopy,
04:32keyhole surgery to inspect her pelvis and remove endometriosis.
04:38Mary says he fiercely criticised her previous surgeon.
04:45He was pointing to all the images saying,
04:47yep, see, that's endo, that's endo,
04:48she's left this behind, that's been left behind.
04:51I'm so glad you've come to me, we're going to fix it all.
04:54Look at all these spots, I'll take them out
04:56and then you'll be good as new.
04:57And were you?
04:58No.
05:02Mary woke up at Epworth Freemasons Hospital.
05:06With excruciating pain,
05:08she says she hadn't experienced after her previous surgery.
05:14Mum and I are both crying.
05:15He's saying, it's all confirmed, it was all endo,
05:18we got rid of it, so she's going to be amazing.
05:22Despite Dr Gordon's promises the endometriosis was gone,
05:27as the weeks and months passed,
05:30Mary Spanos did not feel any better.
05:34I was in debilitating pain.
05:36I'd gotten to a point where I'd purchased a walking stick
05:39because I could barely stand up straight.
05:44These are the pathology notes.
05:47Mary demanded to see all of her pathology results
05:50to see what was really going on.
05:54There were five separate pieces of tissue
05:56that had been sent off to pathology
05:58and all of them came back saying,
06:00no endometriosis present.
06:01And his handwriting was right next to it saying, nil.
06:04I just broke out in a sweat, broke out in tears,
06:07and I just was in shock.
06:09So to be absolutely crystal clear about this,
06:11you're saying that he lied to you?
06:13Absolutely.
06:13Mm-hm.
06:16These are just some of the women we've spoken to
06:19about Dr Simon Gordon.
06:22Some have had several laparoscopies with him.
06:26Some have had ovaries removed.
06:29And some have had their fertility compromised.
06:37Hi, I'm Dr Thierry Vankai.
06:39I'm a gynecologist since 1985
06:42and a pain medicine specialist since 2010.
06:47Professor Vankai is considered one of the fathers
06:50of laparoscopic surgery in Australia.
06:53We sent him Mary's medical files.
06:57He said while Dr Gordon claimed clear evidence
07:00of extensive scarring in Mary's pelvis,
07:04this was totally imaginary.
07:07And there was barely any.
07:09Your words to us were, in my opinion,
07:12the surgery performed by Dr Gordon
07:15was totally unnecessary and caused more harm than good.
07:19That's correct, yes.
07:21Yes, indeed.
07:22And someone who has an almost clear pelvis,
07:26it's really sad to see.
07:29We've spoken to dozens of gynecologists for this story.
07:33They say that occasionally you can do a laparoscopy
07:36genuinely believing that the woman has endometriosis.
07:40And then when you operate,
07:41you realise that there was actually none.
07:44And so, of course, you immediately tell the woman the truth.
07:47But as our investigation progressed,
07:50we discovered that Simon Gordon was allowing women to believe,
07:54after a major operation,
07:57that they had severe endometriosis,
08:00when in fact they had little or none.
08:03And he was doing it again and again and again.
08:10I'm Dr Desiree Yepp.
08:12I'm a specialist obstetrician and gynecologist.
08:16I've had a fairly constant trickle of patients
08:20from Dr Gordon in the last 15 or so years.
08:27Melbourne gynecologists we spoke to both on and off camera
08:31confirm they've seen patients
08:33whose pathology results don't show endometriosis
08:37when Dr Gordon has told them
08:39they had a severe case of the disease
08:42and operated as if they did.
08:46I then have to weigh up what is in the best interests of the woman
08:50about the problem that she is currently seeing me for.
08:54That sounds like a stressful situation to be in as a doctor.
08:58It is.
08:59I personally take a, you know, harm minimisation approach,
09:04so I don't want to distress a woman
09:08when I don't have a solution.
09:14I'm Shamitha Katharasinghe, gynecologist.
09:17I'm working in Melbourne, Australia.
09:20What does it say when a doctor tells a patient
09:23that they were riddled with endometriosis
09:26when the histopathology shows otherwise?
09:29I think we're deceiving our patients.
09:32Have you had patients whose operation notes from Simon Gordon
09:36say they have endometriosis
09:38but the histopathology shows they don't?
09:41The short answer is yes.
09:43On multiple occasions?
09:46Yes.
09:49Does that worry you?
09:51Yes.
09:55We asked Jess Foster
09:57to check the histopathology for her surgery.
10:01She had mild endometriosis
10:03during her first surgery with another doctor
10:06but she's now discovered
10:08there was no trace of the disease
10:10on Dr Gordon's pathology samples.
10:13Dr Gordon diagnosed Jess
10:16with deep infiltrating endometriosis
10:19shortly after he received these results.
10:25After I got out of the surgery,
10:27I woke up and it was instantly
10:29just this blinding pain.
10:34I can't even explain to you how bad this pain was.
10:37I actually just asked the nurses to kill me.
10:41I just said, I can't take it.
10:42I said, please, just kill me.
10:44I can't take it.
10:45I can't do it.
10:48Before she met Dr Gordon
10:50and even after her first operation
10:52with the other gynaecologist,
10:54Jess had a very different life.
10:58I was an incredibly active person.
11:00I went to the gym six days a week.
11:03I was a pole fitness instructor.
11:06She's now in constant pain.
11:09I am terrified of that pain.
11:12I am terrified.
11:14So at the moment,
11:15I have to take up to 50 milligrams
11:18of opiates a day,
11:20200 milligrams of ketamine
11:21and I barely even took Panadol
11:24before his surgery.
11:26I can't exercise.
11:28I can't go to the gym.
11:32I can't work.
11:34I have barely any quality of life
11:36compared to what I had before.
11:38And that's because of the surgery?
11:40And that is the second
11:41I got out of the surgery with Simon Gordon,
11:43my entire life changed.
11:51After our interview with Jess,
11:54she complained to the medical regulator,
11:57ARPRA.
11:58Its investigation is still ongoing.
12:02Dr Gordon often performed a major surgery
12:05with the item number 35641,
12:09which Medicare rebates
12:11for severe endometriosis.
12:15We asked gynaecologists
12:17when it was appropriate
12:18for a surgeon to perform
12:20and bill for a 35641.
12:24I'm Dr Alice Whittaker,
12:26an obstetrician and gynaecologist
12:27with experience in public practice
12:29and private practice.
12:33So this billing is really reflecting
12:37someone who has very advanced endometriosis.
12:40So to be eligible for this item number,
12:42you need to demonstrate
12:43that person has had severe endometriosis.
12:46Dr Alice Whittaker understands
12:48the pain of endometriosis
12:51because she's had it herself.
12:52But she points out
12:54that about 80% of endometriosis in women
12:57is superficial, freckle-like spots
13:00on the lining of the pelvis
13:02and manageable without needing surgery.
13:05They don't need to fear
13:07that their endometriosis
13:08is going to progress
13:09and they're going to be left
13:11with major disease down the track.
13:16Severe endometriosis is relatively rare.
13:22Dr Karen Mizia is a gynaecologist
13:25who specialises in ultrasounds.
13:28Deep endometriosis
13:30is where the endometriosis
13:31has burrowed into the pelvic floor tissues
13:34or to the tissues in the pelvis.
13:36And there's a chance
13:38that it has invaded
13:39into either bowel,
13:40blood vessels or other tissue
13:42and then excising that
13:44is going to be much more complex
13:46compared to superficial endometriosis.
13:55Medicare's item number fee
13:56for a 35641
13:58is $1,449
14:01more than any other endometriosis surgery.
14:06Some of the patients we spoke to
14:09had more than one of these operations
14:11with Simon Gordon.
14:17Is it ever acceptable
14:20that a 35641 laparoscopy
14:22be conducted in circumstances
14:24where the histopathology shows
14:26no endometriosis?
14:28Absolutely not.
14:32Hi, I'm Dr Peter Wright.
14:34I'm a gynaecologist
14:35working in Brisbane.
14:37The current evidence
14:39does not suggest
14:39that laparoscopy
14:40and excision of endometriosis
14:42is a good treatment
14:43of pelvic pain.
14:44So I always say
14:46that surgery
14:47can diagnose endometriosis,
14:49it can remove lesions
14:51and it may or may not
14:53improve pain.
14:53Look, I think surgery
14:55can be a really important tool
14:57in the management
14:58of endometriosis-associated pain.
15:00But when it's used repeatedly
15:03and used inappropriately,
15:05particularly in the context
15:07of chronic pelvic pain,
15:08it can be unhelpful
15:10and frankly harmful.
15:12So that's end up.
15:14Right there.
15:16There's a sky tissue
15:17from previous surgery.
15:19Professor Van Kuy
15:20reserves a 3-5-6-4-1 surgery
15:23for only very exceptional cases.
15:27It is performed
15:28in cases of extensive endometriosis
15:31involving indeed
15:32the bowel and the ovaries,
15:33for instance.
15:34It's so the exceptional
15:36right and the rule, really.
15:37So that's why
15:38it's a special category.
15:40Does it concern you
15:42that there are women
15:43having tissue removed unnecessarily?
15:46Absolutely.
15:47Because I see the consequences of it
15:49in terms of pain
15:51secondary to surgical intervention
15:54as a pain specialist.
15:57So yes, my thinking is
15:59that surgery should be kept
16:00to a minimum.
16:04Professor Van Kuy
16:05also agrees
16:07that telling women
16:08they have endometriosis
16:09when the histopathology
16:11shows they do not
16:13is unacceptable.
16:15That's not right.
16:17That's for sure.
16:19We went to Canberra
16:21to speak to the
16:22Federal Health Minister
16:23Mark Butler
16:24about the complaints
16:26we've received
16:27about Dr Gordon.
16:29Have you spoken
16:30to your department
16:31about an investigation
16:33by Medicare
16:34into this particular doctor?
16:36Well, I've got advice
16:38that those investigations
16:39are underway.
16:41So there's an investigation
16:42by Medicare?
16:43On Medicare billings, yes.
16:46In his statement,
16:48Simon Gordon
16:49told Four Corners,
16:50over my two and a half decades
16:52as a specialist,
16:54Medicare has never contacted me
16:56about inappropriate billing.
17:01Dr Gordon charged higher
17:04out-of-pocket fees
17:05than other gynaecologists
17:07Four Corners
17:08has spoken to,
17:09both on and off camera.
17:12Some of the patients
17:14did not have
17:15private health insurance.
17:17I actually had to access
17:19my super,
17:20my retirement
17:20to pay for this surgery.
17:24The surgery cost me
17:25more than $14,000.
17:27My partner had to
17:28take out a personal loan
17:30to help me find that,
17:31fund that surgery,
17:33which we're still paying off
17:34until today.
17:38Oh yes, I can fix that.
17:39I can cure you.
17:40Nicole Van Der Zee
17:42did have endometriosis
17:44when she had surgery
17:45with Dr Gordon,
17:46but she's still
17:47in physical
17:48and financial pain
17:50four years later.
17:52Was the surgery successful?
17:55To Simon Gordon, yes.
17:58In his words,
17:59the surgery went perfectly,
18:01but I'm actually
18:03in more pain
18:03post-surgery
18:05than I was
18:05prior to the surgery.
18:07So there was no benefit
18:09as far as you could see?
18:11Oh no, oh no.
18:12If I could tell
18:12my past self
18:16to not go through with it,
18:18I wish I could.
18:19I really wish I could.
18:20So Nicole,
18:21these are your bills
18:22for the surgery?
18:24Yes, some of.
18:25Some of.
18:26So all up,
18:27how much did you actually pay?
18:29For the day
18:30to be in hospital
18:31for the laparoscopy,
18:33it was close to $13,500.
18:37That included
18:38the overnight bed costs.
18:40Dr Gordon's
18:41out-of-pocket fees
18:42and the anaesthetist.
18:45I didn't have that money,
18:46so I needed to borrow
18:48and thankfully
18:49I had family
18:50that I could borrow off
18:51without putting myself
18:52into a horrible debt,
18:54you know,
18:54with a bank.
18:54And you're still in debt
18:56for that surgery?
18:58Yeah.
18:59Yeah, I'm still paying
19:00family back.
19:01Yeah.
19:04Dr Gordon has made
19:06an impressive living
19:07from women like these.
19:09He's been a golden goose
19:11for the Epworth.
19:11A few months after
19:14he operated
19:15on Nicole Van Der Zee,
19:17Dr Gordon paid
19:18$5 million
19:19for this property
19:21on Victoria's
19:22Mornington Peninsula.
19:24He also bought
19:26this slick
19:27inner city penthouse,
19:28which is now for sale
19:30for almost
19:31$3.5 million.
19:37I'll never forget
19:38this pin wall
19:39that he had
19:39with photos
19:40and letters
19:41and on it
19:43was a handmade card
19:44that said,
19:46I love my daddy
19:47because he drives
19:48a Ferrari.
19:50So he's driving
19:52a Ferrari
19:52and you're in debt
19:54and not any better
19:55than you were before.
19:56Worse.
19:57I'm worse
19:59than I was before.
20:03Queensland practitioner
20:04Dr Peter Wright
20:05doesn't know
20:06Dr Gordon,
20:07but she knows
20:08other surgeons
20:09who also perform
20:11multiple laparoscopies
20:12on women
20:13despite clear
20:15national guidelines
20:16that advise
20:17exercising caution
20:19before doing
20:20repeat surgeries.
20:24The people
20:25that do a lot
20:26of surgeries,
20:26their entire business
20:27is built on the surgery
20:28that they do
20:29and they're great surgeons
20:30and they're good people.
20:32If they accept
20:34this science
20:35then their entire
20:36practice has to change
20:38and that's their
20:39mortgage payments.
20:41That's their
20:42private school fees.
20:43That's all of that.
20:45That's why
20:45this is such a difficult
20:46thing to change.
20:48That's why.
20:52When gynaecologists
20:54discuss other
20:55pain options
20:56with patients
20:57like medication,
20:58physiotherapy,
20:59diet,
21:00the Medicare
21:00item fee
21:01for that
21:02consultation
21:03is $178,
21:05a small fraction
21:06of what a
21:07surgeon receives
21:08for a
21:0935641 operation.
21:13I think it's
21:14all set up
21:15because Medicare
21:16thinks that
21:16gynaecology
21:17is a surgical
21:18specialty
21:19and they
21:20give greater
21:21rebates to
21:22surgeries.
21:23There's a
21:24financial incentive
21:24to operate
21:25rather than
21:26to listen,
21:28validate
21:28without a
21:30surgeon's knife.
21:32You have
21:34seen
21:34Simon Gordon
21:35patients who
21:36have had
21:36multiple
21:37laparoscopies.
21:38Yes,
21:38I have.
21:39The College
21:40of Gynaecologists
21:41and Obstetricians
21:42has guidelines
21:42and it
21:43says that
21:44it recommends
21:44careful
21:45consideration
21:46for repeat
21:48laparoscopic
21:48surgery for
21:49people with
21:50endometriosis.
21:51Why is that?
21:52Because there's
21:53no evidence
21:54that repeated
21:55laparoscopies
21:57solve the
21:58problem.
21:58I think that
22:00in the last
22:0020 years
22:01we've really
22:02moved away
22:03from the
22:04idea that
22:05surgery is
22:06the cure
22:07for pain.
22:08My philosophy
22:09is more
22:09than one
22:10you're done.
22:11So you
22:12want to do
22:12it once,
22:12you want
22:13to do
22:13it well.
22:14I would
22:15say since
22:162015 I
22:17probably
22:17haven't had
22:18to repeat
22:19laparoscopy
22:20in the
22:20same patient.
22:21What are
22:21the dangers
22:22of continually
22:22removing
22:23tissue in
22:24this way?
22:25Treating
22:25the patient's
22:26pain is
22:27less likely
22:27to be
22:28effective
22:29the second
22:30time around.
22:31So scour
22:31tissue indeed
22:32can cause
22:33pain
22:34or indirectly
22:35and scour
22:36tissue is
22:37definitely
22:38very difficult
22:39to treat.
22:40I am
22:41anxious
22:42every time
22:43before I
22:43operate on
22:44their pelvis
22:44and it
22:45has to pay
22:46dividends for
22:46that patient
22:47in terms of
22:48quality of
22:48life.
22:50Every time
22:51we cut
22:51we have
22:53the potential
22:53to cause
22:54harm.
22:57Simon Gordon
22:59told Four
22:59Corners
23:00across my
23:01entire career
23:02I never
23:03performed
23:03surgery to
23:04treat
23:05endometriosis
23:06or any
23:06other
23:07condition
23:07unless I
23:08was absolutely
23:09convinced
23:10it was in
23:11the patient's
23:12best interests
23:13and to
23:14improve
23:15their overall
23:16quality of
23:16life.
23:18Whatever
23:19Dr Gordon
23:20thought
23:20there were
23:21certainly
23:21clinicians
23:22at the
23:23Epworth
23:23Hospital
23:24who were
23:24concerned
23:25about his
23:26practices.
23:27I had
23:28a pretty
23:28horrific
23:28onset of
23:29pain
23:29whilst at
23:30home
23:30I'd only
23:31just been
23:31discharged
23:32from
23:32Simon's
23:32care
23:33so we
23:34returned
23:34to Epworth
23:35emergency
23:35department
23:36to be
23:36seen.
23:37When they
23:38tried to
23:38contact
23:39Simon
23:40he wouldn't
23:41admit me
23:41he refused
23:42to admit
23:42me.
23:44He said
23:44and I
23:45quote
23:45the emergency
23:46department
23:46is for
23:47people who
23:47are dying.
23:50it was
23:51pretty clear
23:51that the
23:51emergency
23:52department
23:52doctor
23:53was
23:53extremely
23:54disgusted
23:55in that
23:55behaviour
23:56and she
23:57actually
23:57put through
23:57a formal
23:58complaint.
24:01There
24:02were
24:02multiple
24:03complaints
24:04to
24:04management.
24:08The
24:08complaints
24:09even came
24:10from
24:10doctors.
24:11An
24:11emergency
24:11physician
24:12and a
24:13gynaecologist
24:14working in
24:15intensive
24:15care
24:15complained
24:16to
24:17Epworth's
24:17director
24:18of
24:18medical
24:19services
24:19because
24:20Dr
24:20Gordon
24:21refused
24:21to see
24:22his
24:22own
24:23patients
24:23who
24:24were
24:24having
24:24medical
24:25emergencies.
24:27Dr
24:27Gordon
24:28says
24:28he was
24:29not aware
24:30of
24:30complaints.
24:33An
24:34Epworth
24:34fertility
24:35specialist
24:36intervened
24:37to stop
24:38Abby Lewis
24:38from losing
24:39an ovary.
24:41When we
24:41met Abby
24:42she had
24:43recently
24:43become a
24:44mum.
24:45I feel
24:46very blessed.
24:46I feel
24:47that he
24:47is my
24:48little
24:49miracle
24:49baby.
24:51But it
24:52would have
24:52been much
24:53harder for
24:54Abby to
24:54conceive this
24:55little
24:56miracle had
24:57that fertility
24:58doctor not
24:59put a stop
25:00to Simon
25:01Gordon's
25:01plans.
25:03Dr Gordon
25:04first operated
25:05on Abby
25:06when she was
25:06a teenager
25:07and at that
25:08point she
25:09had endometriosis.
25:10By the time
25:11she was 21
25:12she'd had
25:14four
25:14laparoscopies
25:15with him.
25:16Abby
25:17has only
25:17now
25:18discovered
25:18that in
25:19the last
25:20two
25:20there was
25:21no
25:21endometriosis
25:22present
25:23in her
25:23pathology
25:24even though
25:26Dr Gordon
25:26wrote in
25:27his operation
25:28report
25:28that he
25:29excised
25:30it.
25:30I went
25:31back
25:31complaining
25:32of my
25:33left-sided
25:34pelvic pain
25:34and from
25:36the start
25:36he had
25:37told me
25:37that my
25:38endometriosis
25:39was worse
25:40on the
25:40left
25:40side
25:40so he
25:42said
25:42now
25:42it
25:43hasn't
25:43worked
25:43what
25:44we've
25:44done
25:44hasn't
25:44worked
25:44so
25:45it's
25:45time
25:45that
25:45we're
25:46just
25:46going
25:46to
25:46have
25:46to
25:46remove
25:46it.
25:47Remove
25:48an ovary.
25:49My heart
25:50kind of sunk
25:51when he
25:51said it
25:52because
25:52I was
25:5422 at
25:54the time
25:55it's a
25:55pretty big
25:56deal
25:56to be
25:56told
25:57that
25:57your
25:58ovary
25:58has
25:58to
25:58come
25:58out.
25:59And
25:59from
26:00what
26:00we
26:00have
26:00found
26:01speaking
26:01to
26:02other
26:02gynecologists
26:03it's
26:04not
26:04recommended
26:04for
26:05women
26:05in
26:05their
26:0520s.
26:07Did
26:08he
26:08explain
26:09any
26:09of
26:09that?
26:10No.
26:10There
26:11was
26:11no
26:11explanation
26:12and
26:12any
26:13questions
26:13were
26:13shut
26:14down
26:14pretty
26:14quickly.
26:16There
26:16is
26:17a
26:17reason
26:17why
26:17we
26:17have
26:17these
26:18organs
26:18in
26:18our
26:18bodies.
26:19For
26:19the
26:19ovary
26:20other
26:20than
26:21fertility
26:21an
26:22ovary
26:23plays
26:23a
26:23pivotal
26:23role
26:24in
26:24a
26:24person's
26:24well-being
26:25their
26:26bone
26:26health
26:27their
26:27menopausal
26:28overall
26:28general
26:28health.
26:29So
26:30is
26:30it
26:30fair
26:31to
26:31say
26:31that
26:32you
26:32would
26:32only
26:32remove
26:33an
26:3520s
26:36in
26:36very
26:36rare
26:38circumstances?
26:39That
26:39is
26:39correct.
26:40Have
26:41you
26:41seen
26:42young
26:42women
26:42in
26:43their
26:4320s
26:44who've
26:44had
26:45ovaries
26:45removed
26:46when
26:46the
26:46histopathology
26:47shows
26:48no
26:48endometriosis
26:49and
26:50there's
26:50no
26:50fertility
26:51preservation
26:51by
26:52Dr.
26:52Gordon?
26:53Yes.
26:54Does
26:55that
26:55concern
26:55you?
26:58It
26:58concerns
26:59me because
26:59it is
27:00hugely
27:00different
27:00to
27:01how
27:01I
27:01would
27:01practice.
27:03I
27:03would
27:04hope
27:04that
27:04actually
27:05doesn't
27:05happen.
27:07He's
27:07a good
27:08sleeper.
27:08Is
27:08he?
27:09Yeah.
27:10Wow.
27:10That's good
27:10for that
27:11age.
27:11The
27:11fertility
27:12doctor
27:12who
27:13saved
27:13Abby's
27:14ovary
27:14was
27:14alarmed
27:15such
27:16a
27:16young
27:16woman
27:16was
27:17about
27:17to
27:17have
27:18an
27:18organ
27:18removed.
27:20He
27:21got a
27:21second
27:21opinion
27:22from
27:22a
27:22professor
27:23of
27:23gynaecology
27:24who
27:25agreed
27:25the
27:26ovary
27:26should
27:27not
27:27come
27:27out.
27:28He
27:29was
27:29pleading
27:30with
27:30me
27:30not
27:30to
27:31remove
27:31an
27:31ovary
27:32at
27:32my
27:33age
27:33when
27:34there's
27:34really
27:35no
27:35need
27:35for
27:36it
27:36to
27:36go.
27:37That
27:38doctor
27:38made
27:39a
27:39complaint
27:39to
27:40Epworth
27:40management
27:41about
27:41that.
27:42Yeah.
27:43The point
27:43is that
27:44that was
27:45one of
27:45many
27:46complaints
27:46that have
27:47been made
27:47made to
27:48the
27:48hospital
27:48about
27:49this
27:50surgeon
27:50by
27:51doctors
27:52and
27:52by
27:53patients
27:53and
27:53by
27:54nurses.
27:54Yeah.
27:55It's
27:56just
27:56disappointing
27:56that
27:57it's
27:58taken
27:58so
27:58long
27:59for
28:00anything
28:00to
28:01be
28:01done.
28:03Epworth's
28:04director
28:04of
28:04medical
28:05services
28:05says
28:06she
28:07cannot
28:07recall
28:08this
28:08complaint
28:08but
28:09she
28:09did
28:09counsel
28:10Simon
28:10Gordon
28:11about
28:11another
28:12complaint.
28:13In
28:14September
28:152024
28:16a
28:17professor
28:17of
28:17gynaecology
28:18complained
28:19with
28:19two
28:20other
28:20doctors
28:21to
28:21the
28:21medical
28:22regulator
28:22ARPRA.
28:24We
28:24suggest
28:25that
28:25you
28:25actually
28:26chase
28:26the
28:27pathology
28:27of
28:28the
28:28patients
28:28as
28:29many
28:29patients
28:30who
28:30have
28:30been
28:30told
28:31they
28:31have
28:31endometriosis
28:33slash
28:33severe
28:34endometriosis
28:35but
28:36in fact
28:36have
28:37no
28:37pathology
28:38confirming
28:39this
28:39and
28:40patients
28:41listed
28:42all
28:42had
28:42at
28:43least
28:43one
28:44ovary
28:44removed.
28:45I
28:46cannot
28:46find
28:46a
28:47colleague
28:47who
28:47takes
28:48out
28:48an
28:48ovary
28:49in
28:49a
28:49young
28:49woman
28:50under
28:5030
28:51except
28:52in
28:52very
28:53rare
28:53circumstances
28:54for
28:55example
28:55cancer.
28:57This
28:57surgical
28:58approach
28:58is
28:59outside
28:59of
29:00standard
29:01gynaecological
29:02practice.
29:04Years
29:05after
29:06people
29:06first
29:07started
29:07complaining
29:08about
29:08Dr.
29:08Gordon
29:09ARPRA
29:10has
29:10requested
29:11thousands
29:12of pages
29:13of his
29:13patient
29:14files
29:14from
29:15Epworth
29:15hospital.
29:17On
29:18February
29:1810
29:19Epworth's
29:20CEO
29:20Andrew
29:21Strip
29:22wrote
29:22to
29:23ARPRA
29:23requesting
29:24that
29:24the
29:25regulator
29:25inform
29:26hospitals
29:27in a
29:27timely
29:28manner
29:28if it
29:29was
29:29investigating
29:30doctors
29:31to
29:31safeguard
29:32patient
29:33safety.
29:35In a
29:35statement
29:36to
29:36Four
29:36Corners
29:37Professor
29:37Strip
29:38said
29:38To
29:39anyone
29:39who
29:40feels
29:40unheard
29:41or let
29:42down
29:42I
29:43am
29:43truly
29:44sorry
29:44for
29:45the
29:45impact
29:45that
29:46experience
29:46has
29:47had
29:47on
29:47you.
29:50From
29:50what
29:51you've
29:51seen
29:51do you
29:52think
29:52that
29:52these
29:52women
29:52were
29:53let
29:53down?
29:54Well
29:54it goes
29:54without
29:55saying
29:55these
29:55women
29:56have
29:56been
29:56let
29:57down
29:57by
29:57the
29:57system
29:58and
29:58really
29:59our
29:59job
29:59now
29:59is
30:00to
30:00determine
30:00how
30:01we
30:01can
30:01ensure
30:02this
30:02doesn't
30:03happen
30:03again.
30:05As
30:06we
30:06met
30:06more
30:07women
30:07and
30:07health
30:08professionals
30:08complaining
30:09about
30:10Simon
30:10Gordon's
30:11practices
30:11we
30:12were
30:12contacted
30:13by
30:13a
30:14crisis
30:14communications
30:15professional
30:16for
30:16Epworth.
30:17That's
30:18when the
30:18hospital
30:19started
30:19investigating
30:20Simon
30:21Gordon
30:21and told
30:22him
30:22he'd
30:23have
30:23to
30:23go
30:23on
30:24leave.
30:25The
30:25CEO
30:26informed
30:27Epworth's
30:27board
30:28and on
30:29that
30:29weekend
30:29Dr.
30:30Gordon
30:31announced
30:31his
30:32retirement
30:32and
30:33cancelled
30:33all
30:34of
30:34his
30:34surgeries.
30:37By
30:38the
30:38Monday
30:38morning
30:39Simon
30:39Gordon's
30:40rooms
30:40had
30:41been
30:41completely
30:42cleaned
30:42out.
30:43This
30:44caused
30:45chaos
30:45amongst
30:46his
30:46patients
30:47as
30:47so
30:48many
30:48women
30:48were
30:48left
30:49without
30:49care.
30:51As
30:52this
30:52happened
30:53Isabella
30:53Ganji
30:54was waiting
30:55for her
30:55surgery
30:56with
30:56Simon
30:57Gordon.
30:58Days
30:59before
30:59he
30:59retired
31:00Isabella
31:01posted
31:01this
31:02video
31:02on
31:03social
31:03media.
31:04I
31:05am
31:05having
31:06surgery
31:06on
31:07the
31:0812th
31:09of
31:09November
31:10in a
31:11couple
31:12of
31:12weeks.
31:13He
31:13is
31:13going
31:14to
31:14remove
31:15my
31:16left
31:16ovary.
31:17If
31:17it
31:17means
31:18that
31:18I'm
31:18not
31:18going
31:18to
31:18be
31:18in
31:19any
31:19pain
31:19anymore
31:20let's
31:20do it.
31:22Isabella
31:23is
31:23autistic.
31:24We
31:25visit
31:25her
31:25in
31:26assisted
31:26living
31:26accommodation.
31:27her
31:28family
31:28paid
31:29for
31:29her
31:29surgeries
31:30in
31:30the
31:30hope
31:31their
31:31girl
31:31could
31:32beat
31:32the
31:32excruciating
31:33pain
31:34she'd
31:35lived
31:35with
31:35for
31:35years.
31:37Dr.
31:37Gordon's
31:38retirement
31:38and sudden
31:39cancellation
31:40of
31:40Isabella's
31:41surgery
31:41sent her
31:42mental
31:43health
31:43spiralling.
31:44When
31:45I
31:45found
31:46out
31:46he
31:46retired
31:47I
31:47was
31:47very
31:48hurt
31:49and
31:49upset
31:50because
31:51he
31:51said
31:51that
31:52the
31:52surgery
31:52that
31:53I
31:53was
31:53going
31:53to
31:53have
31:53was
31:53going
31:54to
31:54completely
31:54fix
31:55me
31:55and
31:55take
31:56my
31:56pain
31:57away
31:57I
31:58was
31:58very
31:59suicidal
32:00and
32:01I
32:01didn't
32:01know
32:02what
32:02to
32:02do
32:02anymore.
32:03Two
32:04days
32:04after
32:05Simon
32:05Gordon
32:05retired
32:06Isabella
32:07Ganji
32:08attempted
32:08suicide.
32:10Her
32:11GP
32:11referred
32:12her to
32:12see
32:13another
32:13gynaecologist
32:14who
32:15explained
32:16she
32:16hadn't
32:17actually
32:17needed
32:18the
32:18ovary
32:19removed
32:19at
32:20all
32:20and
32:20refused
32:21to
32:21take
32:22it
32:22out.
32:23You
32:23felt
32:23suicidal
32:24on
32:24Monday
32:25about
32:25losing
32:26Dr
32:26Gordon.
32:27How
32:28do
32:28you
32:28feel
32:28about
32:28him
32:28now?
32:29Very
32:30angry
32:30and
32:30disappointed
32:31with
32:31him.
32:33He
32:33told
32:34me
32:34that
32:35he
32:35was
32:35going
32:35to
32:36be
32:36the
32:36one
32:36to
32:36stop
32:37all
32:37my
32:37pain
32:38and
32:38I
32:38believed
32:39him
32:39but
32:39I
32:40am
32:40just
32:41finding
32:41out
32:43that
32:44he
32:44was
32:44going
32:45to
32:45make
32:45me
32:45worse
32:46makes
32:47me
32:47angry
32:48I'm
32:49angry
32:50at
32:51myself
32:51for
32:52believing
32:53in him
32:53and
32:54thinking
32:55that
32:55I
32:56was
32:56going
32:56to
32:56get
32:56better.
32:58You
32:59shouldn't
32:59be
32:59angry
33:00at
33:00yourself.
33:06You
33:06didn't
33:07make
33:07this
33:07happen
33:08Isabella.
33:12Just
33:13I
33:13should
33:14have
33:14asked
33:14more
33:15questions
33:15and
33:16I
33:17should
33:17have
33:17asked
33:18for
33:18more
33:19information.
33:23But
33:24all
33:24he
33:24said
33:25was
33:25it's
33:25going
33:26to
33:26stop
33:26my
33:26pain
33:26and
33:27I
33:27believed
33:27him.
33:41We
33:42travelled
33:42to
33:43Thailand
33:43to
33:44meet
33:44a
33:45young
33:45woman
33:45who
33:46wasn't
33:46saved
33:47by
33:47another
33:48doctor.
33:50A
33:51young
33:51woman
33:52whose
33:52case
33:52is
33:53absolutely
33:54notorious
33:55in
33:56Epworth
33:56gynaecology
33:57circles.
33:58Courtney
33:59Patton
34:00had
34:00seven
34:01laparoscopies
34:02with
34:02Simon
34:02Gordon.
34:06I've
34:06had the
34:07opportunity
34:07to have
34:08a family
34:08taken away
34:09from me.
34:10I'll
34:10never
34:10be able
34:10to get
34:11that
34:11back.
34:14By
34:15the time
34:15she was
34:1625,
34:17Dr
34:17Gordon
34:18had
34:18removed
34:19three
34:19of
34:20Courtney's
34:20organs
34:21and
34:21rendered
34:22her
34:22infertile.
34:23It's
34:24left
34:24her
34:24deeply
34:25traumatised.
34:28I've
34:29endured
34:29multiple
34:30surgeries
34:31for what
34:32I was
34:32told was
34:33to help
34:33with my
34:34endometriosis
34:35symptoms.
34:36I've had
34:36both my
34:36ovaries
34:37removed
34:37and my
34:38uterus
34:39removed
34:39all on
34:40separate
34:40occasions.
34:41At one
34:41point it
34:42felt like
34:42I'd
34:42spent
34:43my
34:43twenties
34:44in
34:45Epworth.
34:46I
34:46ended
34:47up
34:47in
34:47the
34:47Cabrini
34:48Mental
34:48Health
34:49Hospital
34:49for
34:50severe
34:50PTSD
34:51from
34:52everything
34:52I'd
34:53injured
34:53with
34:53Simon
34:54Gordon.
34:55From
34:55the
34:56multiple
34:56surgeries?
34:57Yeah.
35:03In the
35:04days before
35:04Simon
35:05Gordon
35:05suddenly
35:06retired,
35:07Four Corners
35:07asked
35:08Courtney
35:08Patton
35:09to email
35:10Dr
35:10Gordon
35:10to request
35:11all of
35:12the
35:12pathology
35:13results
35:13from
35:14all
35:14seven
35:15of
35:15her
35:15operations
35:16because
35:16she'd
35:17never
35:17been
35:18given
35:18that
35:18information
35:19before.
35:21He said
35:23Hi Courtney
35:24it's been
35:24a while
35:25hope you
35:26are well
35:26unfortunately
35:27I cannot
35:28locate
35:28any
35:29histopathology
35:30for you
35:30your file
35:32appears to
35:33be missing
35:34or has
35:34been
35:35culled
35:35regards
35:36Simon.
35:39Doctors
35:40are legally
35:41required
35:41to keep
35:42patients
35:43medical
35:43records
35:44for
35:44seven
35:45years.
35:46We went
35:47through
35:47Courtney's
35:48pathology
35:49records
35:49comparing
35:50them with
35:51what Dr
35:51Gordon
35:52wrote in
35:53his
35:53operation
35:54reports.
35:55The
35:56results
35:56are simply
35:57shocking.
35:58This is
35:59your first
35:59operation
36:00in 2019
36:01with
36:02Simon
36:02Gordon.
36:03So let's
36:04have a look
36:05at the
36:05report
36:05then.
36:06Specimen
36:07one
36:07no
36:08evidence
36:08of
36:08malignancy
36:09specimen
36:11two
36:11no
36:12histological
36:13evidence
36:13of
36:14endometriosis
36:14specimen
36:16three
36:16specimen
36:17four
36:18specimen
36:19five
36:20no
36:20endometriosis
36:21is
36:21identified
36:22and
36:23specimen
36:24six
36:24there is
36:25no
36:25evidence
36:26of
36:26endometriosis
36:27how do
36:29you feel
36:29seeing those
36:31words?
36:31Violated
36:32yeah
36:33violated
36:35this is a
36:37letter to
36:37your GP
36:38yep
36:38and he
36:40says
36:40it's
36:41entirely
36:42consistent
36:43with
36:43endometriosis
36:44this is
36:47the billing
36:48for
36:49that
36:50procedure
36:51this
36:52has been
36:53billed
36:53for
36:54advanced
36:55endometriosis
36:57surgery
36:58and
37:00there was
37:00no
37:01endometriosis
37:02surgery
37:04in
37:05February
37:062020
37:06Dr
37:07Gordon
37:07performed
37:08a second
37:09surgery
37:10on
37:10Courtney
37:10that was
37:11designed
37:12for
37:12severe
37:13endometriosis
37:14in one
37:16of the
37:16five
37:17pathology
37:18samples
37:18some
37:19tiny
37:20deposits
37:20consistent
37:21with
37:21endometriosis
37:22were found
37:23but all
37:24of the rest
37:25were negative
37:26three months
37:27later
37:28Courtney
37:28had
37:29surgery
37:29number
37:30three
37:30no
37:32endometriosis
37:33identified
37:33in multiple
37:34levels
37:36and what
37:37does he
37:37write to
37:38your doctor
37:38Courtney
37:39has had
37:40a number
37:40of
37:40challenging
37:41surgeries
37:42for
37:42endometriosis
37:44and again
37:45he's billed
37:46you
37:47for
37:48advanced
37:48endometriosis
37:49in
37:50January
37:512021
37:51surgery
37:53number
37:53four
37:54this is
37:54an
37:54important
37:55one
37:55why is
37:56that
37:56yeah
37:57you
37:57took
37:58out
37:58my
37:58right
37:58ovary
37:59okay
38:00the
38:01pathology
38:02again
38:03showed
38:03no
38:04evidence
38:04of
38:05endometriosis
38:06he
38:07writes
38:07to your
38:08doctor
38:09and he
38:10says
38:10Courtney
38:11has a
38:11long
38:11history
38:12symptomatic
38:13of
38:13endometriosis
38:14I mean
38:15how do
38:16you feel
38:16about
38:16that
38:16now
38:18it's
38:19shattering
38:19because
38:20I put
38:20my trust
38:21with this
38:22doctor
38:23thinking
38:23he knew
38:24best
38:24he knew
38:24what was
38:25best
38:25for me
38:25he knew
38:26how anxious
38:27I was
38:28about not
38:28being able
38:29to have
38:29kids
38:29in the
38:30future
38:30and this
38:31is the
38:32beginning
38:32of the
38:33end
38:33of your
38:34fertility
38:35yeah
38:35and I
38:36was only
38:3723
38:43Courtney
38:44spends
38:44her days
38:45trying
38:46to
38:46mentally
38:47process
38:47it
38:47all
38:49she's
38:50now
38:50discovered
38:50there
38:51was
38:51no
38:51disease
38:52on
38:52her
38:52histopathology
38:53when
38:54Simon
38:54Gordon
38:55did
38:55surgery
38:56number
38:56six
38:57to
38:57remove
38:58her
38:58second
38:59healthy
39:00ovary
39:01that
39:02said
39:03it's
39:03not as
39:04if
39:04no
39:04one
39:05was
39:05worried
39:05about
39:06what
39:06was
39:06happening
39:07to
39:07this
39:07young
39:07woman
39:10as
39:11time
39:11wore
39:11on
39:12there
39:12were
39:12serious
39:13concerns
39:13amongst
39:14the
39:14other
39:14medical
39:15professionals
39:16who
39:16were
39:16seeing
39:17Courtney
39:17one
39:18of
39:18them
39:18raised
39:19the
39:19alarm
39:19to
39:19Epworth
39:20management
39:20that
39:21Simon
39:22Gordon
39:22had
39:23taken
39:23a
39:23second
39:24ovary
39:24from
39:25the
39:2524
39:25year
39:26old
39:26Courtney
39:26without
39:27fertility
39:28preservation
39:29another
39:30doctor
39:30who saw
39:31Courtney
39:31at the
39:32time
39:32was so
39:32disturbed
39:33by the
39:34removal
39:34of that
39:35second
39:35ovary
39:36that she
39:36had to
39:37leave
39:37a
39:37consultation
39:38with
39:38Courtney
39:39and she
39:40burst
39:40into
39:40tears
39:42people
39:43were
39:44raising
39:44red
39:45flags
39:45all
39:46over
39:46the
39:46place
39:47but
39:48nothing
39:49happened
39:49nothing
39:49happened
39:55four
39:56corners
39:57has
39:57discovered
39:58that a
39:58clinician's
39:59complaint
40:00about
40:00Courtney's
40:01second
40:01ovary
40:02being
40:02removed
40:03went
40:04to
40:04Dr.
40:05Kate
40:05Tyson
40:05then
40:06director
40:07of
40:07Epworth
40:08Endometriosis
40:09Centre
40:09and
40:10Dr.
40:11Julie
40:11Lamont
40:12the
40:12director
40:13of
40:13its
40:13Women's
40:14and
40:14Children's
40:14Clinical
40:15Institute
40:17Dr.
40:18Lamont
40:18emailed
40:19Dr.
40:20Vivek
40:20Nigam
40:21then
40:22director
40:22of
40:22medical
40:23services
40:23the
40:25hospital's
40:26records
40:26don't
40:27show
40:27what
40:28happened
40:28from
40:28there
40:29and
40:29Dr.
40:30Nigam
40:30can't
40:31recall
40:31it
40:35while
40:36this
40:36was
40:36happening
40:37behind
40:37the
40:37scenes
40:38Dr.
40:39Gordon
40:39told
40:40Courtney
40:40she
40:41needed
40:41a
40:42seventh
40:42surgery
40:43a
40:44hysterectomy
40:44another
40:46gynaecologist
40:47warned
40:47that it
40:48was
40:48unnecessary
40:50but
40:51then
40:52in
40:522023
40:53Courtney
40:54was
40:54hospitalised
40:55with a
40:56kidney
40:56infection
40:57and
40:58Simon
40:59Gordon
40:59came to
41:00see her
41:00convincing
41:01Courtney
41:02removing
41:02her
41:02uterus
41:03would
41:04relieve
41:04her
41:04pain
41:06when
41:07you're
41:07in
41:08my
41:09position
41:09when
41:09someone's
41:10seen
41:10your
41:10insides
41:11multiple
41:12times
41:12over
41:13and
41:13over
41:14and
41:14when
41:14you
41:14get
41:15so
41:15desperate
41:15for
41:16help
41:16something
41:17in
41:17you
41:17just
41:17goes
41:18oh
41:18okay
41:18I'll
41:18trust
41:19him
41:21Courtney
41:22Patton
41:22was
41:2325
41:27it's
41:28devastating
41:30he's
41:31taken
41:31the
41:32trust
41:32of
41:32a
41:32young
41:33vulnerable
41:33woman
41:34and
41:35completely
41:35betrayed
41:36it
41:41we
41:42forwarded
41:43Courtney
41:43Patton's
41:44operation
41:45notes
41:45pathology
41:46results
41:47bills
41:47and
41:47some
41:48surgical
41:48photos
41:49to
41:49Professor
41:50Thierry
41:51Vankai
41:51he wrote
41:53back
41:53that he
41:54was
41:54shocked
41:54at
41:55what
41:55he
41:55saw
41:55the
41:56treatment
41:57or
41:57rather
41:57the
41:58mistreatment
41:59received
41:59by this
42:00poor
42:00patient
42:01Courtney
42:01Patton
42:02is
42:02unbelievable
42:03how on
42:04earth
42:05could
42:05anyone
42:06justify
42:06this
42:11something
42:11should
42:12have
42:12happened
42:12after
42:13the
42:13second
42:13microscopy
42:14in
42:14other
42:15words
42:15the
42:15diagnosis
42:16was
42:16not
42:16correct
42:17anymore
42:17I
42:18was
42:18sick
42:19to the
42:19stomach
42:19really
42:20I was
42:20sickening
42:21to it
42:21look
42:21at
42:22beautiful
42:23pelvis
42:23to start
42:23with
42:24and
42:24what
42:25happened
42:25afterwards
42:26how do
42:26you feel
42:27that no
42:27one
42:28stopped
42:28this
42:29from
42:29happening
42:29to
42:30Courtney
42:30well
42:31it's
42:31unacceptable
42:31really
42:33feels
42:33like
42:34nobody
42:34wants
42:35to take
42:35responsibility
42:35or nobody
42:36knows
42:36whose
42:37responsibility
42:38it is
42:38I have
42:39to say
42:40it's
42:40one of
42:40the worst
42:41cases
42:41I've
42:42seen
42:42one of
42:43the worst
42:43stories
42:43I've
42:44read
42:44as a
42:44health
42:44minister
42:45about
42:46care
42:46being
42:47delivered
42:47in
42:47what
42:48is
42:48otherwise
42:48a
42:48terrific
42:49health
42:49care
42:49system
42:50I have
42:50to say
42:51I felt
42:51quite
42:51physically
42:52sick
42:52reading it
42:53I mean
42:54it's
42:54incredibly
42:54distressing
42:57Epworth
42:58CEO
42:58Andrew
42:59Strip
43:00cancelled
43:00an interview
43:01with Four
43:01Corners
43:02for health
43:02reasons
43:03and declined
43:04to make
43:05his chief
43:06medical
43:06officer
43:07available
43:07in a
43:09statement
43:09Professor
43:10Strip
43:11said
43:11the
43:11experiences
43:12being
43:12described
43:13were
43:13deeply
43:14distressing
43:15and the
43:15hospital
43:16had
43:16referred
43:17Courtney's
43:18case
43:18to
43:18ARPRA
43:19in
43:19October
43:20last
43:20year
43:20he
43:22is
43:22now
43:23commissioning
43:23an
43:24external
43:24review
43:25of
43:25the
43:26hospital's
43:26clinical
43:27governance
43:33Simon
43:34Gordon
43:35declined
43:35to be
43:36interviewed
43:36and refused
43:37to speak
43:38with Four
43:38Corners
43:39about any
43:39of these
43:40individual
43:41women's
43:41cases
43:42despite
43:43them all
43:43providing
43:44consent
43:44for him
43:45to do
43:45so
43:47more
43:48generally
43:48he said
43:49for
43:49generations
43:50the pain
43:51suffered
43:51by
43:52women
43:52was
43:53ignored
43:53downplayed
43:54and
43:55untreated
43:55my
43:57concern
43:57was to
43:58try
43:58and alleviate
43:59pain
44:00and restore
44:01quality of
44:02life
44:02for female
44:03patients
44:08solicitor
44:09Emily Hart
44:10is representing
44:11Courtney
44:11and has
44:12now been
44:13contacted
44:13by more
44:14than 80
44:15women
44:16treated
44:16by Dr
44:17Gordon
44:18I don't
44:19think there
44:19is an
44:20amount
44:20of money
44:20that can
44:21probably
44:21compensate
44:22someone
44:22for the
44:22loss
44:23of their
44:23fertility
44:23particularly
44:24at such
44:25a young
44:25age
44:25what
44:26really
44:27shocked
44:27me
44:27when I
44:28first
44:28became aware
44:29of this
44:29matter
44:30was the
44:31way that
44:32Simon
44:32Gordon's
44:33practice
44:33differed so
44:34dramatically
44:35from other
44:35matters
44:35that I'd
44:36seen
44:36again
44:37and again
44:38and again
44:39senior
44:40managers
44:40at the
44:41largest
44:42private
44:43hospital
44:43in
44:44Victoria
44:44were being
44:45informed about
44:46concerns about
44:47this man's
44:48care of
44:49vulnerable
44:49women
44:50and yet
44:51nothing
44:51happened
44:51what do you
44:52say to that
44:53well that really
44:55is why I've
44:56written to the
44:56Victorian minister
44:57to ask
44:57whether or not
44:58there should be an
44:59investigation into
45:00the clinical
45:01governance standards
45:02and the application
45:03of those standards
45:04at this hospital
45:06in December
45:08Simon Gordon
45:09removed himself
45:10from ARPRA's
45:11register of
45:12practitioners
45:13the regulators
45:14investigation
45:15into him
45:16continues
45:17Dr Desiree
45:20Yap
45:20says
45:21she knows
45:22why the
45:22corrosive
45:23culture of
45:24silence
45:24about doctors
45:25like Simon
45:26Gordon
45:26remains
45:28I think
45:29that we
45:30don't have
45:30faith
45:31that there
45:32are good
45:32mechanisms
45:33for reporting
45:36performance
45:37concerns
45:37I have spent
45:39a career
45:39where
45:40I have been
45:42in a male
45:42dominated
45:44environment
45:44where
45:45career
45:46progression
45:48was a
45:49patronage
45:49type of
45:50system
45:51basically
45:52if you're
45:52not a
45:52team
45:52player
45:53you're
45:53not on
45:53the team
45:54what's the
45:55consequence
45:55of that
45:56for patients
45:56though
45:57if there
45:57are real
45:58concerns
45:59I think
46:00it's a
46:00it's a
46:01big problem
46:01for quality
46:02of care
46:03for patients
46:04why do you
46:05think this
46:05hasn't come
46:06out
46:06I think
46:08most of
46:09us are
46:09scared
46:09why is
46:11that
46:11many of
46:12us
46:12who've
46:13ever
46:13throughout
46:14our
46:14career
46:14have
46:14ever
46:15if
46:15we've
46:15ever
46:15tried
46:15to
46:16speak
46:16up
46:16we've
46:17often
46:17been
46:18punished
46:18for
46:19speaking
46:19up
46:20for
46:21myself
46:21I am
46:22a
46:22female
46:23surgeon
46:23working
46:24in
46:24Melbourne
46:25if
46:26I
46:26add
46:26the
46:26part
46:26that
46:27I'm
46:27a
46:27brown
46:27female
46:28surgeon
46:28then
46:29that
46:29makes
46:29it
46:30much
46:30more
46:30difficult
46:31for me
46:31to
46:31speak
46:32up
46:32Louise
46:33I
46:33speak
46:34today
46:35and
46:35we've
46:36had a
46:37chat
46:37about
46:37this
46:37that
46:38there's
46:38been
46:38numerous
46:38times
46:39that
46:39you've
46:39requested
46:39I speak
46:40with
46:40you
46:41and
46:41my
46:41answer
46:41has
46:41been
46:42no
46:43because
46:44I'm
46:44scared
46:44that
46:45me
46:45speaking
46:46up
46:46could
46:46potentially
46:47be
46:47career
46:47ending
46:48it
46:49could
46:49impact
46:49my
46:50practice
46:51and
46:52it
46:52could
46:52lead
46:53to
46:53isolation
46:54from
46:55my
46:55colleagues
46:56and
46:56from
46:57you
46:57know
46:58the
46:58greater
46:58medical
46:59community
46:59I'm
47:00willing
47:00to
47:01speak
47:01to
47:01you
47:01today
47:02because
47:02it
47:02is
47:03the
47:03right
47:03thing
47:03to
47:03do
47:04for
47:04the
47:04patients
47:05that
47:05cannot
47:05speak
47:06that
47:07that's
47:07that's
47:07big
47:07thing
47:07to
47:07do
47:08and
47:09I
47:09may
47:10be
47:10not
47:11even
47:11comprehending
47:12the
47:13risks
47:13that I
47:13am
47:13actually
47:14taking
47:15and
47:16I
47:16hope
47:17that
47:17this
47:19will be
47:19a
47:19changing
47:19point
47:20for us
47:20in
47:21medicine
47:21where
47:22we
47:22do
47:23not
47:23blame
47:24the
47:24people
47:25that
47:25speak
47:25up
47:26but
47:26we
47:26look
47:26at
47:26how
47:27as
47:27a
47:27system
47:28we
47:28can
47:28do
47:29better
47:29because
47:30our
47:30patients
47:31deserve
47:32better
47:36these
47:37women
47:37want
47:37that
47:38too
47:38they're
47:39tired
47:40of
47:40having
47:40to
47:41do
47:41all
47:41the
47:42fighting
47:42themselves
47:45I
47:46want
47:46all
47:46of
47:47those
47:47doctors
47:47that
47:48knew
47:48what
47:48happened
47:49to
47:49speak
47:50up
47:50what
47:51would
47:51you
47:51say
47:51to
47:52Simon
47:52Gordon
47:52if
47:52he
47:52was
47:53here
47:53today
48:03I
48:03actually
48:04don't
48:04know
48:04what
48:04I'd
48:04say
48:04to
48:05him
48:05sorry
48:10I
48:10wouldn't
48:11say
48:11anything
48:11to
48:12him
48:12because
48:12I
48:12don't
48:12think
48:13I
48:13could
48:13even
48:13look
48:13at
48:14him
48:16I
48:17haven't
48:17had
48:17a
48:17day
48:17of
48:17relief
48:18since
48:18my
48:19surgery
48:21I
48:22would
48:22probably
48:23ask
48:23him
48:23how
48:23he
48:23sleeps
48:24at
48:24night
48:24like
48:25was
48:25it
48:25worth
48:25it
49:00if
49:01this
49:01program
49:02has
49:02raised
49:02concerns
49:03for
49:03you
49:03you
49:04can
49:04contact
49:04one
49:05of
49:05these
49:05services
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