The revelations aired tonight on ABC Four Corners, outlining the experiences of women seeking care for pelvic pain, are deeply disturbing and represent a profound failure of our health system.
Women’s Health Victoria Chief Executive Officer Sally Hasler said the issues raised by the episode, aptly called ‘Scarred’, are more evidence that the health system fails to listen to, believe and care for women.
“The horrific issues raised in ‘Scarred’ are consistent with what women have been saying for a very long time,” Ms Hasler said.
“Without commenting on the individual practitioner subject to the allegations raised in Four Corners tonight, the episode highlighted how multiple failures to act on reports from women and other healthcare practitioners have caused harm to women’s health, fertility, and overall wellbeing.
“We demand better – safe healthcare means listening to patients.”
Ms Hasler said the 2025 Victorian Government Inquiry into Women’s Pain report highlighted the experiences of thousands of women – more than 70% of respondents – who had their experiences dismissed in a system that ignores or de-prioritises women’s health.
“Tonight’s program shows that even when people could access a healthcare provider, some received sub-standard care, or allegedly unnecessary procedures.
“If so, it appears that those women living in pain had their trust in the medical system exploited and even when other healthcare professionals raised their concerns, those in power ignored them.”
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) updated and released the Australian Living Evidence Guideline: Endometriosis and supporting resources in May 2025 to assist healthcare providers to provide appropriate care for the thousands of women in Australia who have endometriosis.
“Research into women’s pelvic pain and endometriosis is sadly lacking, especially considering its prevalence in our community,” Ms Hasler said.
“For 1 in 7 Australian women who live with endo, even getting a diagnosis can take many years and thousands of dollars, leaving them disillusioned, distrustful and desperate.
“This lack of understanding and joined-up care leaves thousands of women at the mercy of an outdated system that prescribes or recommends expensive treatments which can be temporary, or more worrying, completely ineffective.
“Sadly, tonight’s example has shown how women’s trust in the system can lead to such catastrophic outcomes as loss of fertility and ongoing, debilitating and disabling pain.
“The problems in our health system have burdened Australian women with cost, pain and infertility – and added unnecessary expense for taxpayers who have covered the Medicare bill.
“Women’s Health Victoria is calling on governments to properly invest in women’s health and implement the recommendations of the Inquiry into Women’s Pain and put an end to the unnecessary physical, psychological and financial pain of women.
“We need all those in power to listen and to act,” she said.