A Melbourne surgeon is facing serious allegations of performing unnecessary surgeries on young women for endometriosis, with multiple clinicians and patients raising concerns with hospital management and medical regulators. A comprehensive investigation has revealed that a prominent gynaecologist, Dr Simon Gordon, repeatedly removed tissue and organs from female patients for what were described as “severe” endometriosis cases, even when pathology reports indicated little or no trace of the disease.
Gynaecologists who have reviewed patient records and pathology reports have stated that many of the surgeries performed by Dr Gordon were, in their professional opinion, unnecessary. In some instances, these procedures are alleged to have caused “more harm than good,” leaving women with persistent severe pain and compromised fertility.
Following the revelations, Dr Gordon was asked to take leave from Epworth Private Hospital in October, shortly after the hospital was informed of the investigation. He subsequently retired from practice the following weekend.
The Federal Health Minister, Mark Butler, described the allegations as “sickening” upon being briefed. He has since contacted his Victorian counterpart, requesting Safer Care Victoria to launch an inquiry into Epworth’s management of Dr Gordon’s practice. The Victorian minister has indicated that her department is providing advice on further actions. Epworth Private Hospital, Victoria’s largest private hospital, has also initiated an external review of its clinical governance in light of the complaints.
Furthermore, Medicare is reportedly investigating Dr Gordon’s billing practices. He is alleged to have repeatedly claimed Medicare benefits for item number 35641, a code designated for severe endometriosis, even when pathology results showed no or only mild signs of the condition. A significant number of the women interviewed had undergone procedures billed under this item number.
Severe, or “deep infiltrating endometriosis,” affects approximately 20 per cent of women diagnosed with the disease. Gynaecologists consulted for this report indicated that they perform surgeries under item number 35641 only in rare and specific circumstances.
Allegations of Unnecessary Surgeries and Harm
Dr Gordon, once a busy laparoscopic surgeon in Victoria who branded his practice as “Endo Health,” is accused of performing multiple consecutive surgeries on women whose pathology reports revealed minimal or no endometriosis. These procedures reportedly included the removal of ovaries in some patients and a uterus in at least one case.
Over the past five years, clinicians and patients have lodged numerous complaints regarding Dr Gordon’s methods. These complaints were directed to Epworth management, the medical regulator AHPRA, and Victoria’s Healthcare Complaints Commission. Despite these complaints, which were received by Epworth’s directors of medical services and theatre nurse managers, many women continued to undergo aggressive surgery with Dr Gordon, including those with pathology results indicating no endometriosis.
While Dr Gordon has retired, AHPRA is continuing its investigation into his practice and has requested extensive patient files from Epworth.
Patients’ Accounts of Distress and Harm
The practices of Simon Gordon were reportedly an “open secret” within the Australian gynaecology community, with many gynaecologists expressing dismay. Professor Thierry Vancaillie, a specialist with extensive experience since 1985, described reviewing patient files, photographs, and bills as “sick to the stomach” and “unbelievable.”
Mary Spanos’s Experience
Mary Spanos underwent laparoscopic surgery with Dr Gordon in 2020, for which he billed her and Medicare using an item number reserved for “severe” endometriosis. She recalls Dr Gordon confirming the presence of endometriosis and its successful removal. However, Mary experienced persistent and excruciating pain following the surgery, requiring her to use a walking stick. When she raised her concerns, she felt dismissed by Dr Gordon.
Upon demanding access to her medical records, Mary discovered her histopathology results from the operation. All five separate tissue samples sent for pathology returned with findings of “No endometriosis present,” with Dr Gordon’s own notes indicating “NIL.” The only prior instance of endometriosis in her medical history was from an earlier operation with a different surgeon. Mary expressed shock and disgust, believing Dr Gordon had lied to her.
Professor Vancaillie, reviewing Mary’s case, concluded that the surgery was “totally unnecessary and caused more harm than good.” He noted that Dr Gordon’s claims of “extensive” scarring were “totally imaginary.”
Jess Foster’s Devastating Outcome
Jess Foster was diagnosed with “deep infiltrating endometriosis” by Dr Gordon days after her 2019 surgery, despite pathology results from that operation showing no signs of the disease. While she had previously tested positive for small amounts of endometriosis with another surgeon, her experience with Dr Gordon was profoundly negative.
Waking up from surgery, Jess experienced “blinding pain” and expressed a desire to end her life. Once a fit pole fitness instructor, she is now unable to exercise or work, suffers from debilitating pain, and requires strong pain management including opiates and ketamine. Her quality of life has drastically diminished, and she states, “Simon Gordon has destroyed my life.”
Courtney Paton’s Ovaries and Uterus Removed
Courtney Paton underwent seven laparoscopies with Dr Gordon for “severe” endometriosis. Ultimately, both her ovaries and her uterus were removed. Pathology results from multiple surgeries consistently showed no signs of endometriosis. One sample did note “focal endometriosis,” but a gynaecologist reviewing it for the investigation deemed it “probably clinically insignificant.” Professor Vancaillie found no justification for the removal of Courtney’s ovaries.
Following the public airing of Courtney’s story, her lawyer, Emily Hart, reported that over 80 former patients have contacted her firm, many of whom are young women in their 20s who were advised to have their ovaries and even uteruses removed, despite histopathology showing no evidence of endometriosis. Several other law firms are also representing former patients of Dr Gordon. Ms Hart described the practices as going “beyond simple human error” and expressed concern that issues were “swept under the carpet.”
Abbey Lewis’s Prevented Surgery
Abbey Lewis, aged 21, was scheduled for her seventh procedure with Dr Gordon in 2024, involving the removal of an ovary. A fertility specialist intervened, deeming the surgery unnecessary. The specialist, with the support of a professor of gynaecology at Epworth, successfully argued against the ovary removal. The specialist lodged a complaint with Epworth’s director of medical services, though the director did not recall the specific complaint but did recall an earlier one regarding Dr Gordon’s alleged refusal to attend to a patient in intensive care.
Abbey subsequently became pregnant, a possibility she believes would have been jeopardised by the ovary removal. It was only after requesting her histopathology, prompted by this investigation, that Abbey discovered her later surgeries had shown no endometriosis, despite Dr Gordon’s operation reports stating otherwise.
Colleagues’ Concerns and Systemic Issues
Gynaecologists have voiced their concerns about Dr Gordon’s practices. Dr Shamitha Kathurusinghe noted seeing patients, including those who had their ovaries removed, where histopathology did not confirm endometriosis. She stated, “It concerns me because it is hugely different to how I would practise.”
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) has national guidelines recommending careful consideration before undertaking repeat laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis. Gynaecologist Desiree Yap reported a “fairly constant trickle of patients” from Dr Gordon over 15 years, many having had multiple laparoscopies. Dr Yap highlighted that repeated laparoscopies are not proven to solve the problem and that the medical community has moved away from viewing surgery as a cure for pain, advocating for a “one and you’re done” approach.
In September 2024, a professor of gynaecology and two other doctors lodged a complaint with AHPRA, urging the regulator to investigate the pathology of patients who were diagnosed with endometriosis but lacked confirmation. The complaint highlighted that patients had at least one ovary removed, stating that removing an ovary in women under 30 is rare outside of cancer cases and that this surgical approach is “outside of standard gynaecological practice.”
Despite years of complaints, AHPRA has only recently requested extensive patient files from Epworth.
Gynaecologists like Dr Yap and Dr Kathurusinghe attribute the continuation of such practices to a fear of reprisal within the medical community, where doctors are often reliant on referrals. They note that “badmouthing your colleagues” is discouraged, and doctors may lack confidence in the effectiveness of reporting mechanisms. Dr Yap described a “patronage type of system” in a male-dominated environment, where non-conformity can lead to alienation. Dr Kathurusinghe admitted that fear of career repercussions and isolation often prevents doctors from speaking up, especially for female and minority surgeons. Despite these fears, she stated her willingness to speak out for the sake of patients who cannot.
Dr Gordon’s Response and Epworth’s Actions
Simon Gordon declined an interview but issued a statement asserting that he always acted ethically and in his patients’ best interests, performing surgery only when convinced it would improve their quality of life. He stated he was unaware of any complaints at Epworth and had never been contacted by Medicare about billing. He emphasised his commitment to alleviating the pain and restoring the quality of life for women, a group he felt was historically neglected.
Epworth HealthCare CEO Andrew Stripp acknowledged the distress caused by the described experiences and stated the hospital listens to concerns with respect. He also wrote to AHPRA urging for timely notification to private hospitals when practitioners are under investigation, citing a “material gap in the safety system.” Epworth notified AHPRA in October 2025 when concerns about Dr Gordon were brought to senior management’s attention, though this was years after the initial complaints.
A clinician’s complaint in 2022 regarding the removal of Courtney Paton’s second ovary was escalated through multiple management levels at Epworth but was not reported to AHPRA. Dr Gordon continued to practice at Epworth for another three years, during which time some patients underwent further procedures deemed unnecessary by experts.
Epworth has commissioned an independent external review of its clinical governance. RANZCOG expressed deep distress over the allegations and offered sincere regret to affected women, stating that the alleged conduct is contrary to the college’s values. Dr Gordon is no longer a member of RANZCOG.
