SA Senator Stirling Griff moves to publish surgeons’ success rates online

Surgeons face having their entire performance records published online – including death and surgical correction rates – under a push by a SA senator.

“Cocky” and “inexperienced” surgeons would be put on notice as part of a new push by a South Australian senator to publish their performance records online.

Centre Alliance senator Stirling Griff says his Bill would “empower patients” to make informed decisions on their surgeons before going under the knife.

His Bill would give the federal Health Department power to publish online databases showing the surgical history of individual practitioners across all specialties nationwide.

It would reveal how often people die during surgeons’ procedures and how often their patients need corrective surgery after botched operations.

“Too regularly we hear horror stories of patients … who have to undergo numerous corrective surgeries and whose lives are forever affected by the careless knife of a cocky or inexperienced surgeon,” Senator Griff said while debating the proposed legislation in the Senate on Monday.

“We’ve all read harrowing tales of patients who undergo a botched procedure and then find themselves in a traumatic battle with the hospital, their surgeon and the system … to get answers and ensure others don’t suffer the same fate.”

SA Senator Stirling Griff. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

As part of his Bill, the Transparent Patient Outcomes Register would show the number and type of procedures performed by each surgeon.

It would show their mortality and surgical revision rates, their patient demographics and the type of prostheses used, if relevant.

The overall performance of entire hospitals and clinics conducting surgical procedures also would be published.

Senator Griff suggested the database could also show each surgeon’s fees.

His Bill would ensure the data could not be used against surgeons in civil or criminal proceedings.

“Bringing this performance information into the light will ensure surgeons persist with their ongoing education and keep their skills up to date,” Senator Griff said.

“It will likely root out complacency and may help ensure that those who charge the highest fees do in fact earn them.”

Senator Griff said the proposal was based on the YourIVFSuccess website, which tracks the performance of Australian IVF clinics.

He said his Bill was not intended to create “gotcha” databases that undermine professionals.

“(The Bill) gives the (Health) Minister flexibility about how a Transparent Patient Outcomes Register will deal with newly minted surgeons who are still building up their bank of experience, or how it will deal with complaints about incorrect information,” Senator Griff said.

According to data from the Australia Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, 313 Australians had their faces and bodies disfigured in botched cosmetic surgeries over the past three years.

A Royal Australasian College of Surgeons spokesman said a simple “league table” could drive up waiting times as patients decide to only see the “top ten surgeons”.

“It could increase patient stress and anxiety and elective surgery cancellations as patients do not generally have a choice of surgeon within the public system,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman said the college was “supportive of system reforms” but raised concerns about Senator Griff's proposal.

“A key issue is that it is difficult to ensure the quality and accuracy of the data. It is not as simple as comparing two hip replacements as “like for like” – comparisons would have to be adjusted for numerous factors,” he said.

Health Minister Greg Hunt will consider Senator Griff’s proposed legislation in a report to be completed in February, before the Bill is put to a vote.

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