An independent review of Epworth HealthCare in Melbourne concluded that the private healthcare provider's clinical governance framework is robust and detailed, despite allegations that a surgeon performed unnecessary operations. The review made 21 recommendations to improve oversight for procedures affecting women’s fertility and patient feedback mechanisms, all of which Epworth has accepted. The article focuses on how the hospital responded to the allegations without directly examining Dr. Simon Gordon's practice.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-22,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
An independent review of Epworth HealthCare, conducted after allegations that gynaecologist Simon Gordon performed unnecessary surgeries on women for endometriosis, found the hospital’s clinical governance framework to be "robust" and "detailed." The review, however, did not examine Dr. Gordon's practice itself. Despite this, 21 recommendations were made, including increased oversight of procedures that could impact women's fertility, all of which Epworth HealthCare has accepted. Chief Executive Andrew Stripp acknowledged the distress caused by recent reporting and expressed regret for patients' worry and uncertainty. The review was initiated following a Four Corners episode that aired earlier this year, revealing Dr. Gordon’s alleged removal of tissue and organs from women when pathology tests showed little evidence of endometriosis.
Written for “Epworth Governance Review” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
In short:
Epworth HealthCare has accepted 21 recommendations made in an independent review of the private healthcare provider’s clinical governance.
asserted
HealthCare → accept → governance
The review was launched after Four Corners revealed allegations that a surgeon performed unnecessary operations on women for endometriosis.
asserted
surgeon → launch → endometriosis
It found the provider's clinical governance framework was "robust" and "detailed".
asserted
framework → find → ?
An independent review of the Melbourne hospital where a gynaecologist who allegedly performed unnecessary operations on women worked has found "no significant gaps" in its governance framework.
uncertain
who → perform → framework
But the review made 21 recommendations, including more oversight of procedures that could affect women's fertility, which Epworth HealthCare has adopted.
uncertain
HealthCare → make → which
Earlier this year, Four Corners revealed allegations that Simon Gordon repeatedly removed tissue and organs from women for "severe" endometriosis, when pathology showed little trace of the disease.
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pathology → reveal → disease
Some patients underwent life-altering procedures to remove ovaries, fallopian tubes and their uteruses.
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patients → undergo → ovaries
After the episode aired, Epworth HealthCare — Victoria's largest private healthcare provider — commissioned an independent panel to review its clinical governance arrangements.
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HealthCare → air → arrangements
The review released on Wednesday found the policies and guidelines that make up the operator's clinical governance were "robust" and "detailed", but chief executive Andrew Stripp conceded the findings did not lessen the impact of the patient's experiences.
"I recognise that the recent reporting has been distressing for many patients and their families, and I am sorry for the worry and uncertainty this has caused," Professor Stripp said in a statement.
The review did not examine Dr Gordon's practice itself.
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review → release → practice
Among the 21 recommendations was a proposal for peer-to-peer insight or multidisciplinary input when medical treatment with the potential to compromise fertility is being considered.
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treatment → compromise → fertility
In response, Epworth HealthCare has vowed to introduce a requirement for a multidisciplinary review for such gynaecological procedures.
The review also found Epworth staff and executives did not thoroughly understand how external regulatory bodies such as the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and medical boards "could or should" be involved in Epworth's clinical governance frameworks.
uncertain
bodies → vow → frameworks
The hospital was also urged to improve its processes for receiving and reviewing patient feedback.
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hospital → urge → feedback
"Feedback mechanisms should be established to ensure those who raise concerns or report incidents are aware that appropriate consideration has been given to those reports [within privacy and confidentiality boundaries]," the review said.
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review → establish → boundaries
Another area highlighted was the way the hospital generated, collected and analysed data on surgical procedures.
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hospital → highlight → procedures
The review found that the provider’s current system, like that of many other hospitals, relied on manual data handling and analysis "which inherently results in inefficiencies and inaccuracies".
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which → find → inefficiencies
However, the review found the hospital was already in the process of improving its data and analytics to provide clinicians and leaders with better information about patterns of practice, patient outcomes and risks.
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hospital → find → practice
Dr Gordon has previously maintained he acted ethically and responsibly, telling the ABC he "never performed surgery to treat endometriosis or any other condition unless I was absolutely convinced it was in the patient's best interest and to improve their overall quality of life".
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it → maintain → life
He retired from practice shortly after Epworth discovered in October 2025 that Four Corners was investigating him and removed himself from AHPRA’s register of practitioners in December.
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Corners → retire → December
The regulator began reviewing previous complaints it received and launched a fresh investigation into Dr Gordon earlier this year.
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it → begin → Gordon
Last month, the ABC revealed that the Medical Board of Australia, which registers practitioners, had referred the former gynaecologist to a Victorian tribunal alleging he engaged in professional misconduct.
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he → reveal → misconduct
Victoria Police ended an investigation into the gynaecologist, saying it was unable to take the matter further, earlier this month.
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it → end → matter
The Aporia
