The Medical Board of Australia has referred Simon Gordon, the former Melbourne gynaecologist accused of performing unnecessary and life-altering surgeries on his patients, to Victoria's civil tribunal, alleging he engaged in professional misconduct.
Earlier this year, Four Corners revealed allegations the renowned surgeon repeatedly removed tissue and organs from women for "severe" endometriosis, when pathology showed little trace of the disease.
The national health regulator — the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) — began reviewing previous complaints it received and launched a fresh investigation into Dr Gordon earlier this year, commissioning a panel of independent medical experts to review patient care and requesting thousands of medical records and documents.
The Medical Board of Australia, which registers medical practitioners and develops standards, has now determined the allegations AHPRA has been investigating against Dr Gordon warrant consideration by an independent tribunal, and has referred the matter to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
"As this matter will now be filed in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, it is inappropriate for AHPRA or the Board to make any further comment," an AHPRA spokesperson said.
Dr Gordon retired from practice shortly after Epworth Hospital discovered in October 2025 that Four Corners was investigating him, and in December the doctor removed himself from AHPRA's register of practitioners.
The ABC has contacted Dr Gordon for comment. He has previously maintained that he always acted ethically and responsibly.
He told the ABC earlier this year 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".
National boards, like the Medical Board of Australia, must refer serious allegations to a tribunal to decide whether a medical practitioner has engaged in professional misconduct.
VCAT could find Dr Gordon has no case to answer or, if the tribunal determines he had engaged in professional misconduct, it could permanently ban him from applying for registration again, and ban him from working in any healthcare role.
In the aftermath of the allegations aired on Four Corners, the medical regulator came under fire for failing to act on complaints about Dr Gordon that it had received as early as 2022, while Epworth Hospital, where he worked, was also criticised for its handling of complaints from other staff.
Epworth Hospital has commissioned an external review of its clinical governance arrangements which is still ongoing, but that review is not considering Dr Gordon's clinical care.
In announcing the review earlier this year, Epworth HealthCare chief executive Andrew Stripp said the review would ensure the hospital's "oversight and escalation pathways remain strong and aligned with best practice" and promised to make the final report public.
Calls for broader inquiry into endometriosis care
Former patient and advocate Jess Foster said the referral to VCAT marked a significant step.
"I wouldn't call it a victory just yet, only because the investigation is still ongoing, and at the end of the day none of this gives people their health or their lives back," she said.
"After years of being dismissed and the trauma of the current situation, it can feel like things have been forgotten or have stalled.
Ms Foster said there still needed to be a broader independent inquiry into the system and standards surrounding endometriosis healthcare.
"Dealing with the allegations against an individual practitioner is one thing, but what about looking at the systems around that practitioner?" she asked.
"We need to know whether there were earlier opportunities to identify what was happening, whether complaints and concerns were properly dealt with and if not, why were they not dealt with, and what needs to change so this doesn't happen to another group of patients."
It comes as several civil proceedings have been launched in the Supreme Court of Victoria, which include allegations women underwent multiple laparoscopic procedures, including having ovaries, fallopian tubes and their uterus removed.
Arnold Thomas & Becker principal lawyer Allanah Goodwin said the firm had been contacted by more than 500 women who Dr Gordon treated, and that the firm's team was currently representing 295 former patients.
"Many of the women we represent advise they have been left with permanent physical and psychological consequences, including loss of fertility, premature surgical menopause, chronic pelvic pain and ongoing impairment affecting their daily lives," she said.
"Their claims seek compensation for the significant injuries and losses they allege resulted from their treatment."
The Victorian government launched a support line operated by Women's Health Victoria for affected patients.
