September 6, 2026 — 5:00am
Injured, chronically ill and traumatised patients have accused Australia’s healthcare practitioner watchdog of failing to adequately investigate allegations of gross negligence and misconduct by doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals.
Patients and their loved ones who have battled through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency’s (AHPRA) complaints system will be closely watching the implementation of major reforms over the next five years that were designed to better protect the public and build a safe health workforce.
They described a lack of transparency in AHPRA’s handling of their complaints and why some allegations against practitioners were dismissed without investigation, as well as decision-making by practitioners’ boards to close investigations without further action.
This masthead has spoken to more than a dozen patients who notified the regulator about alleged botched procedures that left them with lifelong disability, unnecessary and invasive treatment, sexual harassment and assaults.
