Hold Epworth Accountable — We Demand an Independent Inquiry


Hold Epworth Accountable — We Demand an Independent Inquiry
The issue
Serious allegations have emerged against prominent Melbourne gynaecologist and endometriosis surgeon Dr Simon Gordon, involving multiple patient complaints spanning years. These allegations, now the subject of a Four Corners investigation by the ABC, raise deeply troubling questions — not only about the conduct of an individual practitioner, but about the systems and structures that were meant to protect patients.
Epworth Private Hospital, where Dr Gordon held admitting rights and performed procedures, has a duty of care to ensure robust clinical governance frameworks are in place to identify, escalate, and act on concerns about practitioner behaviour. Patients trust that hospitals will not only credential clinicians appropriately, but will actively monitor for patterns of harm.
We are calling on the Victorian Health Minister to commission a Safer Care Victoria inquiry into clinical governance practices at Epworth Private Hospital, to examine:
- Whether the hospital's credentialing and privileging processes were adequate
- How complaints and concerns about Dr Gordon were received, managed, and escalated internally
- Whether clinical governance systems failed to identify or act on warning signs
- What systemic changes are needed to prevent similar failures from occurring
This petition is being sent directly to all Members of the Victorian Parliament — across both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council — to ensure every elected representative is aware of the community's call for accountability.
Patients — particularly those in vulnerable circumstances seeking care for serious and complex conditions like endometriosis — deserve better. They deserve a healthcare system with the courage to hold itself accountable.

705
The issue
Serious allegations have emerged against prominent Melbourne gynaecologist and endometriosis surgeon Dr Simon Gordon, involving multiple patient complaints spanning years. These allegations, now the subject of a Four Corners investigation by the ABC, raise deeply troubling questions — not only about the conduct of an individual practitioner, but about the systems and structures that were meant to protect patients.
Epworth Private Hospital, where Dr Gordon held admitting rights and performed procedures, has a duty of care to ensure robust clinical governance frameworks are in place to identify, escalate, and act on concerns about practitioner behaviour. Patients trust that hospitals will not only credential clinicians appropriately, but will actively monitor for patterns of harm.
We are calling on the Victorian Health Minister to commission a Safer Care Victoria inquiry into clinical governance practices at Epworth Private Hospital, to examine:
- Whether the hospital's credentialing and privileging processes were adequate
- How complaints and concerns about Dr Gordon were received, managed, and escalated internally
- Whether clinical governance systems failed to identify or act on warning signs
- What systemic changes are needed to prevent similar failures from occurring
This petition is being sent directly to all Members of the Victorian Parliament — across both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council — to ensure every elected representative is aware of the community's call for accountability.
Patients — particularly those in vulnerable circumstances seeking care for serious and complex conditions like endometriosis — deserve better. They deserve a healthcare system with the courage to hold itself accountable.

705
The Decision Makers
Supporter voices
Petition created on 23 February 2026