Scarred

Four Corners' "Scarred" reported by Louise Milligan and produced by Mary Fallon looks at practices by one of Melbourne's most prominent gynaecologists.

He was a top Melbourne surgeon who women trusted with their bodies and their futures.

But he removed organs and tissue from women in their twenties for what he told them was severe endometriosis, while failing to tell them that their pathology showed little or no signs of the disease. His procedures compromised their fertility and left some with chronic, debilitating pain.

This week, Four Corners uncovers how this was allowed to happen and why no one intervened until it was too late.

Reporter Louise Milligan and the team uncover how one of Melbourne's most prominent gynaecologists carried out repeated laparoscopic surgeries that senior specialists describe as unnecessary and harmful.

This seven-month investigation draws on patient testimony, forensic examination of medical records, and doctors speaking out for the first time. It exposes a pattern of surgery that experts have told Four Corners went far beyond accepted practice.

It also exposes how complaints, warnings and red flags were ignored.

This is a story about medical power, institutional failure and the devastating consequences when accountability breaks down.

It raises urgent questions about what must change to prevent it from happening again.