ABOUT THIS EPISODE
The Victorian Premier has announced she will refer serious allegations about surgical misconduct with endometriosis patients by leading gynecologist Dr Simon Gordon to police.
It follows a damning investigation by Four Corners on the ABC, which alleges that countless women had been misdiagnosed and had undergone unnecessary, expensive surgery.
In a statement to Four Corners, Simon Gordon said, “across my entire career, I never performed surgery to treat endometriosis, or any other condition, unless I was absolutely convinced it was in the patient's best interests and to improve their overall quality of life,” and that throughout his career, he’d always “acted ethically and responsibly."
In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Jodie Avery, a lead researcher in Chronic Reproductive Health Conditions, who unpacks what should happen when pelvic pain is investigated, why invasive surgery is no longer the first-line diagnostic tool, and what the latest evidence says about imaging, medical management and multidisciplinary care. She explains the current guidelines, the risks of repeated surgeries, and why women should never feel pressured into procedures without exploring alternatives.
Disclaimer: This interview is for general information only; it does not constitute medical advice.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists diagnosis guidelines state patients with symptoms suggestive of endometriosis should be offered a transvaginal pelvic ultrasound as the first-line investigation. A pelvic MRI can be offered if ultrasound is not available, or if deep endometriosis is suspected. If transvaginal ultrasound is not possible or not appropriate, and MRI is not available, a transabdominal ultrasound could be suggested. Surgery is not required as a first-line option to diagnose endometriosis.
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