{"id":"6ccaf358-5ff3-4351-8a31-595d1cb4b7e9","url":"https://www.theage.com.au/national/health-watchdog-must-put-patient-welfare-first-and-foremost-20260904-p60ul9.html","domain":"theage.com.au","outlet":{"name":"Theage","country":"AU","cred":null,"lean":null,"curated":false},"title":"Health watchdog must put patient welfare first and foremost","plainHeadline":"Health watchdog AHPRA under fire for failing to protect patients","rewrite":{"model":null,"at":null},"summary":["Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) faces renewed scrutiny over complaints handling.","Patients report pro forma responses, lack of transparency, and insufficient trauma-informed communication.","Earlier coverage cited surgeries by Melbourne gynecologist Simon Gordon as an example of inaction.","Historically, cosmetic surgery malpractice investigations and class actions heightened concerns about AHPRA.","Investigation duration has increased by 52% from 2018-19 to 2022-23; one in four cases exceed two years."],"topics":["Health","Politics","Environment"],"lang":"eng","publishedAt":"2026-09-06T00:00:00.000Z","ingestedAt":"2026-09-06T00:14:21.744Z","story":null}