1 00:00:13,380 --> 00:00:16,860 (BREATHES LABORIOUSLY) 2 00:00:16,860 --> 00:00:17,060 (BREATHES LABORIOUSLY) REPORTER: Everybody feels pain, 3 00:00:17,060 --> 00:00:19,300 REPORTER: Everybody feels pain, 4 00:00:19,300 --> 00:00:23,340 but more than three million Australians are prisoners of it, 5 00:00:23,340 --> 00:00:23,580 but more than three million desperate for relief. 6 00:00:23,580 --> 00:00:26,260 desperate for relief. 7 00:00:26,260 --> 00:00:27,660 (GROANS) 8 00:00:27,660 --> 00:00:29,260 It's spawned an industry 9 00:00:29,260 --> 00:00:29,500 that's become a breeding ground It's spawned an industry 10 00:00:29,500 --> 00:00:32,260 that's become a breeding ground for exploitation. 11 00:00:33,620 --> 00:00:35,580 JASON PARKER: You're desperate, you need help, 12 00:00:35,580 --> 00:00:38,540 they offer you desperate solutions, and you take them. 13 00:00:38,540 --> 00:00:40,060 TERESA BURBERY: He said, "Look, we do believe 14 00:00:40,060 --> 00:00:43,780 "that this would improve your pain levels by about 60% to 70%." 15 00:00:43,780 --> 00:00:46,500 And I heard that and I thought, "My God, that's lifechanging." 16 00:00:47,460 --> 00:00:50,660 DAVID IZARD: We just saw that ray of light and thought, "You beauty." 17 00:00:50,660 --> 00:00:53,940 But it was just a train that came down and whacked us so hard. 18 00:00:53,940 --> 00:00:55,940 MARGARET FAUX: Someone comes along and says, 19 00:00:55,940 --> 00:00:59,380 "Trust me, I'm a doctor, I'll take your pain away," 20 00:00:59,380 --> 00:00:59,620 "Trust me, I'm a doctor, you would believe them. 21 00:00:59,620 --> 00:01:00,900 you would believe them. 22 00:01:02,460 --> 00:01:06,500 Australians spend more than $3 billion a year 23 00:01:06,500 --> 00:01:09,340 trying to treat chronic back pain. 24 00:01:09,340 --> 00:01:11,140 It's become an epidemic. 25 00:01:11,140 --> 00:01:16,500 MARGARET FAUX: The pain industry is a huge profitable business 26 00:01:16,500 --> 00:01:16,740 MARGARET FAUX: The pain industry that everybody's in. 27 00:01:16,740 --> 00:01:18,260 that everybody's in. 28 00:01:18,260 --> 00:01:18,500 So, you've got anaesthetist, that everybody's in. 29 00:01:18,500 --> 00:01:23,140 So, you've got anaesthetist, surgeons, pain specialists, GPs, 30 00:01:23,140 --> 00:01:25,260 and then in addition you've got drug companies, 31 00:01:25,260 --> 00:01:25,500 and then in addition you've got device companies. 32 00:01:25,500 --> 00:01:26,900 you've got device companies. 33 00:01:27,980 --> 00:01:30,420 It's leaving a trail of misery, 34 00:01:30,420 --> 00:01:34,420 with some patients ending up in worse pain, 35 00:01:34,420 --> 00:01:34,660 with some patients some suffering paralysis, 36 00:01:34,660 --> 00:01:37,140 some suffering paralysis, 37 00:01:37,140 --> 00:01:38,660 even death. 38 00:01:38,660 --> 00:01:42,100 It was always just another surgery, another surgery, another surgery. 39 00:01:42,100 --> 00:01:42,340 It was always just another surgery, I feel like a lab rat. 40 00:01:42,340 --> 00:01:43,580 I feel like a lab rat. 41 00:01:43,580 --> 00:01:46,380 "If this doesn't work, well, we'll try this." 42 00:01:46,380 --> 00:01:49,580 Or "That didn't work. We'll go a bit more invasive." 43 00:01:49,580 --> 00:01:49,820 Or "That didn't work. IAN HARRIS: There's a correlation 44 00:01:49,820 --> 00:01:51,380 IAN HARRIS: There's a correlation 45 00:01:51,380 --> 00:01:54,100 between financial reward for doing procedures 46 00:01:54,100 --> 00:01:56,860 and the frequency at which those procedures are done. 47 00:01:58,620 --> 00:02:00,820 The pain sector has no idea 48 00:02:00,820 --> 00:02:04,900 we've got access to their medical billing data. 49 00:02:04,900 --> 00:02:08,460 And we've sent it to international fraud investigators 50 00:02:08,460 --> 00:02:13,020 and a team of leading Australian healthcare experts. 51 00:02:13,020 --> 00:02:15,300 I was very startled by those findings. 52 00:02:15,300 --> 00:02:15,540 I was very startled It really profoundly shocked me. 53 00:02:15,540 --> 00:02:17,780 It really profoundly shocked me. 54 00:02:17,780 --> 00:02:20,260 IAN HARRIS: If it was policed in any kind of way, 55 00:02:20,260 --> 00:02:22,900 then you would find an immediate change. 56 00:02:22,900 --> 00:02:23,140 then you would find What shocked you most? 57 00:02:23,140 --> 00:02:24,740 What shocked you most? 58 00:02:24,740 --> 00:02:26,940 The size of the problem. 59 00:02:28,100 --> 00:02:29,820 We'll reveal 60 00:02:29,820 --> 00:02:33,660 how some medical professionals are draining our health system. 61 00:02:33,660 --> 00:02:38,980 There's some obvious cowboys out there. Unfortunately, we met one. 62 00:02:38,980 --> 00:02:39,820 We look inside 63 00:02:39,820 --> 00:02:40,060 the multi-billion-dollar pain industry We look inside 64 00:02:40,060 --> 00:02:42,340 the multi-billion-dollar pain industry 65 00:02:42,340 --> 00:02:45,300 and expose the ugly side of medicine. 66 00:02:45,300 --> 00:02:45,500 and expose the ugly side of medicine. Patients' lives are being put at risk 67 00:02:45,500 --> 00:02:48,060 Patients' lives are being put at risk 68 00:02:48,060 --> 00:02:51,340 and the regulator is failing to do its job. 69 00:03:16,820 --> 00:03:20,060 TERESA BURBERY: The first words I heard 70 00:03:20,060 --> 00:03:22,060 was my specialist standing over me saying, 71 00:03:22,060 --> 00:03:22,300 "I'm so sorry, Teresa. was my specialist standing over me saying, 72 00:03:22,300 --> 00:03:24,580 "I'm so sorry, Teresa. 73 00:03:24,580 --> 00:03:26,460 "I'm so sorry, Teresa." 74 00:03:26,460 --> 00:03:27,900 He said it about three times. 75 00:03:27,900 --> 00:03:28,140 He said it about three times. "I'm so sorry, I've struck your spinal-cord." 76 00:03:28,140 --> 00:03:31,340 "I'm so sorry, I've struck your spinal-cord." 77 00:03:36,740 --> 00:03:39,380 Teresa Burbery's minor procedure 78 00:03:39,380 --> 00:03:42,940 turned into a major medical incident. 79 00:03:42,940 --> 00:03:46,060 I still didn't understand that my leg was paralysed 80 00:03:46,060 --> 00:03:46,300 I still didn't understand because nobody actually said that. 81 00:03:46,300 --> 00:03:49,500 because nobody actually said that. 82 00:03:49,500 --> 00:03:52,420 Nobody told me what was going on. 83 00:03:53,940 --> 00:03:55,980 (EXHALES HEAVILY) 84 00:03:58,180 --> 00:04:03,980 Every day I wake up and the first thing I see is my chair 85 00:04:03,980 --> 00:04:06,220 because it's plugged in next to my bed. 86 00:04:06,220 --> 00:04:09,860 I open my eyes and it's there, 87 00:04:09,860 --> 00:04:12,820 and then I recognise the pain, 88 00:04:12,820 --> 00:04:16,340 and sometimes the pain's the first thing to wake me up. 89 00:04:16,340 --> 00:04:18,700 And I look at that chair and I say, 90 00:04:18,700 --> 00:04:21,780 "Alright, we've got to do this again today." 91 00:04:26,940 --> 00:04:31,980 Teresa underwent an operation for a spinal-cord stimulator 92 00:04:31,980 --> 00:04:35,340 after she was hit by a car, leaving her with hip pain. 93 00:04:36,300 --> 00:04:40,580 The medical device is implanted in patients' backs. 94 00:04:40,580 --> 00:04:45,740 It sends electrical impulses into the spinal-cord to relieve pain. 95 00:04:45,740 --> 00:04:51,260 Her doctor at a private pain clinic said it would help ease her pain. 96 00:04:52,220 --> 00:04:58,140 The very first time I sat in his office and had a consult 97 00:04:58,140 --> 00:05:00,500 he immediately suggested, 98 00:05:00,500 --> 00:05:05,220 "Have you thought about a spinal cord stimulator implant device?" 99 00:05:05,220 --> 00:05:05,460 "Have you thought about a spinal So, this was the first consultation? 100 00:05:05,460 --> 00:05:07,100 So, this was the first consultation? 101 00:05:07,100 --> 00:05:08,660 This was the very first. 102 00:05:08,660 --> 00:05:08,900 And I remember thinking, This was the very first. 103 00:05:08,900 --> 00:05:12,180 And I remember thinking, "My God, that's lifechanging. 104 00:05:12,180 --> 00:05:15,140 "That's me being able to go running again. 105 00:05:15,140 --> 00:05:18,940 "That's me being able to be completely drug-free." 106 00:05:18,940 --> 00:05:19,180 "That's me being able (BREATHES HEAVILY) 107 00:05:19,180 --> 00:05:22,100 (BREATHES HEAVILY) 108 00:05:22,100 --> 00:05:22,340 Teresa says her pain specialist (BREATHES HEAVILY) 109 00:05:22,340 --> 00:05:26,980 Teresa says her pain specialist played down the risks. 110 00:05:29,380 --> 00:05:30,860 He actually said to me, 111 00:05:30,860 --> 00:05:31,100 "Nothing ever really goes wrong He actually said to me, 112 00:05:31,100 --> 00:05:33,420 "Nothing ever really goes wrong with this procedure. 113 00:05:33,420 --> 00:05:33,660 "Nothing ever really goes wrong "It's really safe." 114 00:05:33,660 --> 00:05:35,620 "It's really safe." 115 00:05:36,660 --> 00:05:38,580 It's left me... 116 00:05:40,020 --> 00:05:44,300 ..in worse pain than I could ever have imagined. 117 00:05:51,180 --> 00:05:59,100 I've been left with constant fire pain on my left leg and left side. 118 00:05:59,100 --> 00:06:03,900 So, I've got a whole new area of pain and it doesn't stop. 119 00:06:05,900 --> 00:06:09,380 I've still got that niggly right hip from before, 120 00:06:09,380 --> 00:06:14,020 but, funnily enough, that feels like a drop in the ocean these days 121 00:06:14,020 --> 00:06:18,780 because the pain, that entire area, like, it's just on fire now. 122 00:06:20,700 --> 00:06:24,940 And in terms of before you went in to get the stimulator, 123 00:06:24,940 --> 00:06:29,860 you were saying you were on 20 to 30 milligrams of painkillers. 124 00:06:29,860 --> 00:06:31,980 What sort of medication are you on now? 125 00:06:31,980 --> 00:06:32,220 What sort of medication 100 milligrams. 126 00:06:32,220 --> 00:06:33,660 100 milligrams. 127 00:06:34,740 --> 00:06:36,620 Just to make it through the day. 128 00:06:38,020 --> 00:06:43,140 Nobody tells you that paralysis means 129 00:06:43,140 --> 00:06:43,380 you won't feel anything, that paralysis means 130 00:06:43,380 --> 00:06:45,380 you won't feel anything, 131 00:06:45,380 --> 00:06:47,580 you won't feel any temperature, 132 00:06:47,580 --> 00:06:49,820 you know, no hot, cold, no touch, 133 00:06:49,820 --> 00:06:50,020 you know, no hot, cold, no touch, but all you'll feel is pain. 134 00:06:50,020 --> 00:06:52,820 but all you'll feel is pain. 135 00:06:52,820 --> 00:06:57,860 You'll lose control of your proper bowel functions. 136 00:06:57,860 --> 00:07:00,620 You'll lose proper bladder function. 137 00:07:00,620 --> 00:07:02,860 You'll lose sexual function. 138 00:07:03,820 --> 00:07:06,020 Those things are all gone. 139 00:07:07,100 --> 00:07:12,020 Where is that in the warnings? Where is that in the information provided? 140 00:07:12,980 --> 00:07:16,660 Research on spinal-cord stimulators is mixed. 141 00:07:16,660 --> 00:07:19,220 There's a lack credible scientific evidence 142 00:07:19,220 --> 00:07:19,460 as a treatment for chronic pain. There's a lack credible scientific evidence 143 00:07:19,460 --> 00:07:21,740 as a treatment for chronic pain. 144 00:07:21,740 --> 00:07:26,620 Independent research even describes them as no better than a placebo. 145 00:07:26,620 --> 00:07:26,900 Independent research even describes them as no better than a placebo. Leading orthopaedic surgeon Professor Ian Harris agrees. 146 00:07:26,900 --> 00:07:31,300 Leading orthopaedic surgeon Professor Ian Harris agrees. 147 00:07:31,300 --> 00:07:34,420 He co-wrote a review on them last year. 148 00:07:34,420 --> 00:07:37,540 The conclusion is that they're no more effective than placebo. 149 00:07:37,540 --> 00:07:37,780 The conclusion is that they're So, there's uncertainty, 150 00:07:37,780 --> 00:07:39,700 So, there's uncertainty, 151 00:07:39,700 --> 00:07:39,940 and when we have uncertainty, So, there's uncertainty, 152 00:07:39,940 --> 00:07:42,260 and when we have uncertainty, we have practice variation. 153 00:07:42,260 --> 00:07:43,940 And the reason why there's uncertainty 154 00:07:43,940 --> 00:07:47,580 is because there's no good evidence that they actually work 155 00:07:47,580 --> 00:07:48,980 compared to NOT doing it. 156 00:07:51,980 --> 00:07:56,020 Almost 90% of spinal-cord-stimulator procedures 157 00:07:56,020 --> 00:07:56,260 Almost 90% are done in private hospitals. 158 00:07:56,260 --> 00:07:58,500 are done in private hospitals. 159 00:07:58,500 --> 00:08:02,500 They can cost up to $58,000. 160 00:08:02,500 --> 00:08:04,380 CHRIS HAYES: In the private system 161 00:08:04,380 --> 00:08:04,580 as it exists at the moment, CHRIS HAYES: In the private system 162 00:08:04,580 --> 00:08:05,980 as it exists at the moment, 163 00:08:05,980 --> 00:08:08,340 I believe there is pressure to do that 164 00:08:08,340 --> 00:08:11,700 just to keep the wheels of the system rolling, so to speak. 165 00:08:11,700 --> 00:08:11,980 just to keep the wheels of the system rolling, so to speak. There is pressure to fill beds, to fill operation lists. 166 00:08:11,980 --> 00:08:15,420 There is pressure to fill beds, to fill operation lists. 167 00:08:15,420 --> 00:08:15,660 The more you get paid for procedure There is pressure to fill beds, to fill operation lists. 168 00:08:15,660 --> 00:08:16,940 The more you get paid for procedure 169 00:08:16,940 --> 00:08:19,900 the more likely it is that that procedure will be done. 170 00:08:22,060 --> 00:08:25,140 Tens of thousands of spinal-cord stimulators 171 00:08:25,140 --> 00:08:25,380 Tens of thousands are implanted globally each year. 172 00:08:25,380 --> 00:08:28,020 are implanted globally each year. 173 00:08:28,020 --> 00:08:30,620 Thousands end up in Australia. 174 00:08:30,620 --> 00:08:32,620 Success stories drive demand. 175 00:08:34,140 --> 00:08:36,300 SONG: # I can lick it I can ride it 176 00:08:36,300 --> 00:08:37,540 # While you slip it and slide it... # 177 00:08:37,540 --> 00:08:37,780 # While you slip it and slide it... # (HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYS) 178 00:08:37,780 --> 00:08:39,580 (HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYS) 179 00:08:43,300 --> 00:08:46,500 They're marketed as safe and effective. 180 00:08:46,500 --> 00:08:50,180 (ROCK MUSIC PLAYS) 181 00:08:50,180 --> 00:08:52,260 But behind the spin 182 00:08:52,260 --> 00:08:54,660 lies a global medical device industry 183 00:08:54,660 --> 00:08:57,900 making a fortune out of Australia. 184 00:08:57,900 --> 00:08:58,980 (INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE) 185 00:08:58,980 --> 00:09:02,420 They actually described our country as 'Treasure Island'. 186 00:09:03,540 --> 00:09:08,740 This is an extremely lucrative procedure 187 00:09:08,740 --> 00:09:11,620 for a number of people in the sector. 188 00:09:11,620 --> 00:09:11,900 for a number of people in the sector. Whether it's the pain specialist, the pain clinic 189 00:09:11,900 --> 00:09:15,300 Whether it's the pain specialist, the pain clinic 190 00:09:15,300 --> 00:09:19,700 or the multinational big device companies, 191 00:09:19,700 --> 00:09:20,980 they all benefit. 192 00:09:23,300 --> 00:09:26,900 Teresa is one of a growing number of Australians 193 00:09:26,900 --> 00:09:29,660 living with spinal surgery gone wrong. 194 00:09:32,020 --> 00:09:35,100 TERESA BURBERY: When I encounter people out in public 195 00:09:35,100 --> 00:09:37,860 and they tell me... or they straight up ask me, 196 00:09:37,860 --> 00:09:38,100 and they tell me... "What happened to you?" 197 00:09:38,100 --> 00:09:39,780 "What happened to you?" 198 00:09:39,780 --> 00:09:40,020 I feel a sense of responsibility to share with them the full story. "What happened to you?" 199 00:09:40,020 --> 00:09:45,580 I feel a sense of responsibility to share with them the full story. 200 00:09:45,580 --> 00:09:45,860 I feel a sense of responsibility to share with them the full story. But I'm also absolutely terrified to tell them that a doctor did this, 201 00:09:45,860 --> 00:09:50,380 But I'm also absolutely terrified to tell them that a doctor did this, 202 00:09:50,380 --> 00:09:50,620 But I'm also absolutely terrified a doctor did this to me... 203 00:09:50,620 --> 00:09:52,340 a doctor did this to me... 204 00:09:53,420 --> 00:09:57,740 ..and their whole world, their whole belief system comes crashing down. 205 00:10:00,420 --> 00:10:04,420 Money and medicine make uncomfortable bedfellows, 206 00:10:04,420 --> 00:10:08,340 where profit is sometimes put ahead of the patient. 207 00:10:08,340 --> 00:10:10,860 OPERATOR: (ON PHONE) Emergency services. 208 00:10:10,860 --> 00:10:14,300 ANNE MYERS: (ON PHONE) It's my husband, he's in massive pain. 209 00:10:14,300 --> 00:10:14,540 ANNE MYERS: (ON PHONE) It's my He's 55. 210 00:10:14,540 --> 00:10:15,980 He's 55. 211 00:10:15,980 --> 00:10:17,180 Ohh... 212 00:10:17,180 --> 00:10:19,140 He's in terrible pain. 213 00:10:19,140 --> 00:10:22,900 This audio is the ambulance call Anne Myers made 214 00:10:22,900 --> 00:10:26,700 when she thought her husband, Gordon, was dying. 215 00:10:27,660 --> 00:10:30,300 He was, like, on a rollercoaster of pain 216 00:10:30,300 --> 00:10:30,540 and he would be in so much pain He was, like, on a rollercoaster of pain 217 00:10:30,540 --> 00:10:33,220 and he would be in so much pain 218 00:10:33,220 --> 00:10:33,460 that, you know, and he would be in so much pain 219 00:10:33,460 --> 00:10:37,180 that, you know, I've had to call several ambulances 220 00:10:37,180 --> 00:10:37,420 that, you know, I've had to call several ambulances to take him to hospital 221 00:10:37,420 --> 00:10:38,820 to take him to hospital 222 00:10:38,820 --> 00:10:40,620 'cause he had so much chest pain. 223 00:10:41,580 --> 00:10:48,180 Gordon Myers has been living in hell since a workplace accident in 2007. 224 00:10:50,740 --> 00:10:52,940 What sort of pain are you in? 225 00:10:53,780 --> 00:10:55,660 GORDON MYERS: I've got nerve pain. 226 00:10:55,660 --> 00:10:59,620 And it's every day I don't know when that pain's going to hit me. 227 00:11:01,620 --> 00:11:04,900 I get a lot of... 228 00:11:04,900 --> 00:11:08,340 ..tingling down my spine 229 00:11:08,340 --> 00:11:08,540 ..tingling down my spine right down my feet. 230 00:11:08,540 --> 00:11:10,820 right down my feet. 231 00:11:10,820 --> 00:11:13,020 I get.... When it gets really bad, 232 00:11:13,020 --> 00:11:18,700 my body feels as though I'm having tremors. 233 00:11:20,100 --> 00:11:25,900 Gordon's pain specialist recommended a spinal-cord stimulator. 234 00:11:25,900 --> 00:11:29,660 He was in more pain when he got home than he had before, 235 00:11:29,660 --> 00:11:29,900 He was in more pain when he got home plus the medication and... 236 00:11:29,900 --> 00:11:31,900 plus the medication and... 237 00:11:31,900 --> 00:11:33,820 Well, the first thing that I noticed 238 00:11:33,820 --> 00:11:37,220 was that the thing was heating up inside me when I was charging 239 00:11:37,220 --> 00:11:39,260 and it was giving me electric shocks. 240 00:11:39,260 --> 00:11:44,860 I woke up flying through the air out of bed 241 00:11:44,860 --> 00:11:47,220 and it nearly threw me out the bedroom window 242 00:11:47,220 --> 00:11:50,540 and I had to use all my strength not to go through the glass window. 243 00:11:51,940 --> 00:11:53,900 He did say to me many, many times, 244 00:11:53,900 --> 00:11:54,140 "Get a knife and cut this thing out. He did say to me many, many times, 245 00:11:54,140 --> 00:11:56,540 "Get a knife and cut this thing out. I can't stand it." 246 00:11:56,540 --> 00:11:56,780 "Get a knife and cut this thing out. Yeah. 247 00:11:56,780 --> 00:11:57,580 Yeah. 248 00:11:59,340 --> 00:12:02,700 And this is what it did to Gordon's back. 249 00:12:04,060 --> 00:12:05,500 Felt like third-degree burns... Yeah. 250 00:12:05,500 --> 00:12:06,980 Yeah. ..on my back. 251 00:12:06,980 --> 00:12:09,460 So, he got it removed. 252 00:12:11,620 --> 00:12:14,900 Four Corners has obtained exclusive data 253 00:12:14,900 --> 00:12:15,140 Four Corners which shows how frequently 254 00:12:15,140 --> 00:12:17,020 which shows how frequently 255 00:12:17,020 --> 00:12:18,660 spinal-cord stimulators 256 00:12:18,660 --> 00:12:22,140 require patients to go back into an operating theatre. 257 00:12:23,100 --> 00:12:28,820 Dr Rachel David has access to Australia's private health data 258 00:12:28,820 --> 00:12:32,300 as the CEO representing private health funds. 259 00:12:32,300 --> 00:12:32,580 So, for spinal-cord stimulators, we looked at 6,000 people, as the CEO representing private health funds. 260 00:12:32,580 --> 00:12:36,060 So, for spinal-cord stimulators, we looked at 6,000 people, 261 00:12:36,060 --> 00:12:36,300 So, for spinal-cord stimulators, and within a three-year window 262 00:12:36,300 --> 00:12:38,220 and within a three-year window 263 00:12:38,220 --> 00:12:42,580 41% came back for more surgery, 264 00:12:42,580 --> 00:12:42,780 41% came back for more surgery, whether that was another implant 265 00:12:42,780 --> 00:12:44,620 whether that was another implant 266 00:12:44,620 --> 00:12:48,220 or something went wrong with that original procedure. 267 00:12:48,220 --> 00:12:51,500 If you compare that to hip replacement, 268 00:12:51,500 --> 00:12:57,060 only 2.7% of patients come back within a three-year window. 269 00:12:57,060 --> 00:12:57,300 only 2.7% of patients come back 41% is astonishingly high. 270 00:12:57,300 --> 00:13:00,820 41% is astonishingly high. 271 00:13:01,780 --> 00:13:03,380 GORDON MYERS: I feel like a piece of shit 272 00:13:03,380 --> 00:13:04,620 that's sitting in the garbage bin 273 00:13:04,620 --> 00:13:07,300 waiting to be picked up by the garbo drivers. 274 00:13:07,300 --> 00:13:07,540 waiting to be picked up Mm. 275 00:13:07,540 --> 00:13:08,500 Mm. 276 00:13:08,500 --> 00:13:11,300 Doesn't make you feel very human. 277 00:13:12,380 --> 00:13:13,380 Mm. 278 00:13:13,380 --> 00:13:14,940 It's probably the best one - 279 00:13:14,940 --> 00:13:17,140 they don't make you feel human. 280 00:13:18,460 --> 00:13:20,420 If that makes sense. 281 00:13:26,660 --> 00:13:29,860 It's not just spinal-cord stimulators. 282 00:13:29,860 --> 00:13:32,820 Spinal fusion is another popular procedure 283 00:13:32,820 --> 00:13:33,060 for treating chronic back pain. is another popular procedure 284 00:13:33,060 --> 00:13:35,300 for treating chronic back pain. 285 00:13:35,300 --> 00:13:38,380 The private health system does the majority of them. 286 00:13:40,300 --> 00:13:45,060 That's where grandmother of three Trudi King had hers done. 287 00:13:46,500 --> 00:13:49,260 TRUDI KING: That's all I wanted, to live a pain-free life, 288 00:13:49,260 --> 00:13:50,780 which we all want, 289 00:13:50,780 --> 00:13:52,860 because the pain and the drugs, 290 00:13:52,860 --> 00:13:54,860 taking all those tablets 291 00:13:54,860 --> 00:13:56,540 and the morphine, 292 00:13:56,540 --> 00:13:58,300 it was just getting too much. 293 00:13:58,300 --> 00:14:02,940 It was the specialist who actually suggested the surgery. 294 00:14:03,900 --> 00:14:05,100 Hi, everyone. 295 00:14:05,100 --> 00:14:07,940 This is a video taken moments after she woke up 296 00:14:07,940 --> 00:14:08,180 This is a video from the first surgery in 2021. 297 00:14:08,180 --> 00:14:10,780 from the first surgery in 2021. 298 00:14:20,140 --> 00:14:23,020 What was going through your head? I was terrified. 299 00:14:23,020 --> 00:14:23,300 What was going through your head? I was terrified. I didn't understand why I couldn't move my feet, 300 00:14:23,300 --> 00:14:26,780 I didn't understand why I couldn't move my feet, 301 00:14:26,780 --> 00:14:29,460 and no-one really... the doctor didn't come and see me, 302 00:14:29,460 --> 00:14:29,740 and no-one really... the doctor didn't come and see me, so, no-one really told me what was going on. 303 00:14:29,740 --> 00:14:32,420 so, no-one really told me what was going on. 304 00:14:34,300 --> 00:14:37,100 There were serious complications. 305 00:14:39,620 --> 00:14:42,860 Totally in ICU, unconscious, did not wake up. 306 00:14:42,860 --> 00:14:46,740 Trudi was in a coma for almost three weeks, 307 00:14:46,740 --> 00:14:48,780 and when she finally left the hospital 308 00:14:48,780 --> 00:14:49,020 and when she finally she couldn't walk. 309 00:14:49,020 --> 00:14:50,580 she couldn't walk. 310 00:14:50,580 --> 00:14:50,820 I've got three grandbabies she couldn't walk. 311 00:14:50,820 --> 00:14:53,140 I've got three grandbabies under five 312 00:14:53,140 --> 00:14:55,860 and I can't play with 'em like I want to... 313 00:14:55,860 --> 00:14:58,060 Now it's like, "Nanny's always sick," 314 00:14:58,060 --> 00:14:58,300 Now it's like, or "Nanny's sick." 315 00:14:58,300 --> 00:14:59,980 or "Nanny's sick." 316 00:14:59,980 --> 00:15:01,580 You know, I'm not the healthy nana 317 00:15:01,580 --> 00:15:03,540 I always pictured that I would be with them. 318 00:15:03,540 --> 00:15:03,780 I always pictured Ohh! 319 00:15:03,780 --> 00:15:04,820 Ohh! 320 00:15:05,780 --> 00:15:07,980 (BREATHES HEAVILY) 321 00:15:07,980 --> 00:15:11,420 (GROANS, GRUNTS) 322 00:15:11,420 --> 00:15:13,820 (WHIMPERS) 323 00:15:13,820 --> 00:15:15,140 (BREATHES HEAVILY) 324 00:15:15,140 --> 00:15:17,020 I think if I could get my hands on the surgeon, 325 00:15:17,020 --> 00:15:20,020 I'd like to just say to him, "What the hell did you do?" 326 00:15:23,060 --> 00:15:28,140 Spinal fusion involves joining two or more bones in the spine permanently 327 00:15:28,140 --> 00:15:28,380 Spinal fusion involves joining two or to prevent movement between them. 328 00:15:28,380 --> 00:15:30,660 to prevent movement between them. 329 00:15:30,660 --> 00:15:33,940 Trudi had three bones fused together 330 00:15:33,940 --> 00:15:37,540 she says after scans found disk degeneration. 331 00:15:39,700 --> 00:15:43,980 Professor Ian Harris says an MRI will pick up abnormalities 332 00:15:43,980 --> 00:15:47,260 on most people over 40. 333 00:15:47,260 --> 00:15:47,500 on most people over 40. IAN HARRIS: They'll find degenerative changes 334 00:15:47,500 --> 00:15:49,260 IAN HARRIS: They'll find degenerative changes 335 00:15:49,260 --> 00:15:51,500 and dehydrated discs and bulging discs, 336 00:15:51,500 --> 00:15:53,460 and, so, there's plenty of diagnoses. 337 00:15:53,460 --> 00:15:53,740 The more things you find the more likely it is that you'll end up and, so, there's plenty of diagnoses. 338 00:15:53,740 --> 00:15:56,780 The more things you find the more likely it is that you'll end up 339 00:15:56,780 --> 00:15:59,580 with somebody wanting to treat 340 00:15:59,580 --> 00:15:59,780 with somebody wanting to treat or 'correct' that abnormality 341 00:15:59,780 --> 00:16:02,740 or 'correct' that abnormality 342 00:16:02,740 --> 00:16:05,580 even though correcting that abnormality 343 00:16:05,580 --> 00:16:05,820 even though might not help the patient 344 00:16:05,820 --> 00:16:07,300 might not help the patient 345 00:16:07,300 --> 00:16:07,540 because it might not be associated might not help the patient 346 00:16:07,540 --> 00:16:10,340 because it might not be associated with their pain. 347 00:16:11,300 --> 00:16:13,780 RACHEL DAVID: There is a small place for spinal fusion 348 00:16:13,780 --> 00:16:14,060 for people who might've broken their back RACHEL DAVID: There is a small place for spinal fusion 349 00:16:14,060 --> 00:16:16,700 for people who might've broken their back 350 00:16:16,700 --> 00:16:19,100 or had a serious congenital deformity 351 00:16:19,100 --> 00:16:19,340 or had a serious where their back is... 352 00:16:19,340 --> 00:16:21,260 where their back is... 353 00:16:21,260 --> 00:16:21,500 where their back is... ..is simply not able to function properly. 354 00:16:21,500 --> 00:16:24,140 ..is simply not able to function properly. 355 00:16:24,140 --> 00:16:24,380 ..is simply not able But for back pain 356 00:16:24,380 --> 00:16:26,020 But for back pain 357 00:16:26,020 --> 00:16:26,260 we're seeing that spinal fusion But for back pain 358 00:16:26,260 --> 00:16:29,860 we're seeing that spinal fusion is a very expensive procedure 359 00:16:29,860 --> 00:16:34,420 that for a number of people just simply does not get results. 360 00:16:36,420 --> 00:16:40,260 A rising number of health researchers from around the world 361 00:16:40,260 --> 00:16:42,940 have been questioning the benefits of spinal fusion 362 00:16:42,940 --> 00:16:43,180 have been questioning to treat chronic back pain for years. 363 00:16:43,180 --> 00:16:46,300 to treat chronic back pain for years. 364 00:16:46,300 --> 00:16:48,940 Professor Harris is one of them. 365 00:16:48,940 --> 00:16:51,940 IAN HARRIS: There's only been a handful of trials, 366 00:16:51,940 --> 00:16:53,180 and those trials, when put together, 367 00:16:53,180 --> 00:16:56,100 don't show a clear benefit of surgery. 368 00:16:56,100 --> 00:16:59,420 Some surgeons are very unlikely to recommend the procedure. 369 00:16:59,420 --> 00:17:02,380 So, when we get practice variation like that, 370 00:17:02,380 --> 00:17:05,420 it tells us that someone's wrong, 371 00:17:05,420 --> 00:17:07,420 that we need more science in medicine. 372 00:17:07,420 --> 00:17:07,660 that we need more science Unfortunately, it's too easy for us. 373 00:17:07,660 --> 00:17:10,180 Unfortunately, it's too easy for us. 374 00:17:10,180 --> 00:17:12,420 Because doctors have been put in a position 375 00:17:12,420 --> 00:17:14,380 where we make all the decisions, 376 00:17:14,380 --> 00:17:21,100 it's too easy for us to let these other incentives 377 00:17:21,100 --> 00:17:21,340 it's too easy for us influence our decision-making 378 00:17:21,340 --> 00:17:23,140 influence our decision-making 379 00:17:23,140 --> 00:17:23,380 and it's too easy for us influence our decision-making 380 00:17:23,380 --> 00:17:26,860 and it's too easy for us just to rely on our own observation. 381 00:17:27,820 --> 00:17:32,740 Private hospitals do more than 70% of spinal fusions. 382 00:17:32,740 --> 00:17:33,020 Private hospitals do more than 70% of spinal fusions. Private hospitals literally work on turnover. 383 00:17:33,020 --> 00:17:36,460 Private hospitals literally work on turnover. 384 00:17:36,460 --> 00:17:37,700 That's how they make their money. 385 00:17:37,700 --> 00:17:39,980 And many of them are for-profit organisations, so... 386 00:17:39,980 --> 00:17:42,500 When you say 'turnover', what do you mean? 387 00:17:42,500 --> 00:17:43,860 Medical activity, 388 00:17:43,860 --> 00:17:46,980 so, whether that be procedures, 389 00:17:46,980 --> 00:17:50,380 drugs, other interventions. 390 00:17:50,380 --> 00:17:55,020 It drives over treatment because that's what's measured. 391 00:17:55,020 --> 00:17:59,980 You know, "How many knee replacements were done last year?" 392 00:17:59,980 --> 00:18:01,460 "Is that enough? Should we be doing more?" 393 00:18:02,420 --> 00:18:05,460 I get paid to do an operation, 394 00:18:05,460 --> 00:18:05,700 and, so, there's an incentive I get paid to do an operation, 395 00:18:05,700 --> 00:18:10,140 and, so, there's an incentive for me to do more operations. 396 00:18:16,220 --> 00:18:18,020 (GROANS) 397 00:18:22,940 --> 00:18:24,660 TRUDI KING: I'm on this cycle - 398 00:18:24,660 --> 00:18:27,580 pain doctors, neurologists... 399 00:18:27,580 --> 00:18:29,260 It's just.... It's never-ending. 400 00:18:29,260 --> 00:18:35,060 My life is just a full circle of doctors, constant, constant doctors. 401 00:18:35,060 --> 00:18:36,580 Never stops. 402 00:18:39,580 --> 00:18:41,020 It's terrible. 403 00:18:41,020 --> 00:18:41,260 I'm worse now than I was before the surgery. It's terrible. 404 00:18:41,260 --> 00:18:43,980 I'm worse now than I was before the surgery. 405 00:18:46,180 --> 00:18:50,620 Trudi's doctors charged her private health insurance a fortune. 406 00:18:50,620 --> 00:18:54,740 We asked medical billing expert Dr Margaret Faux 407 00:18:54,740 --> 00:18:57,700 to go through Trudi's records. 408 00:19:01,260 --> 00:19:04,980 MARGARET FAUX: I don't have Trudi's full medical records, 409 00:19:04,980 --> 00:19:08,660 but I do have her complete private health records 410 00:19:08,660 --> 00:19:11,220 for the period when she was in hospital. 411 00:19:11,220 --> 00:19:11,460 Those records make it very clear for the period when she was in hospital. 412 00:19:11,460 --> 00:19:13,500 Those records make it very clear 413 00:19:13,500 --> 00:19:18,500 that she was in an intensive care unit on a ventilator 414 00:19:18,500 --> 00:19:18,740 that she was in an intensive care unit on a ventilator for nearly three weeks. 415 00:19:18,740 --> 00:19:21,420 for nearly three weeks. 416 00:19:21,420 --> 00:19:21,660 A number of doctors for nearly three weeks. 417 00:19:21,660 --> 00:19:26,900 A number of doctors came into the intensive care unit 418 00:19:26,900 --> 00:19:30,740 to provide additional services to Trudi. 419 00:19:30,740 --> 00:19:30,980 to provide additional services The services that they billed 420 00:19:30,980 --> 00:19:33,220 The services that they billed 421 00:19:33,220 --> 00:19:35,060 are services that require the doctor 422 00:19:35,060 --> 00:19:35,300 to have a discussion are services that require the doctor 423 00:19:35,300 --> 00:19:38,660 to have a discussion with the patient - 424 00:19:38,660 --> 00:19:42,540 not their relatives, not their colleagues - with the patient 425 00:19:42,540 --> 00:19:46,260 because you have to explain treatment to the patient. 426 00:19:46,260 --> 00:19:49,460 Now, I do not understand how it is possible 427 00:19:49,460 --> 00:19:53,220 to have a discussion with an unconscious patient 428 00:19:53,220 --> 00:19:53,460 to have a discussion who is in a coma on a ventilator. 429 00:19:53,460 --> 00:19:55,900 who is in a coma on a ventilator. 430 00:19:55,900 --> 00:20:00,420 So, those records need to be looked at. 431 00:20:02,300 --> 00:20:03,900 The chronic-pain industry 432 00:20:03,900 --> 00:20:07,940 has become a breeding ground for financial abuse. 433 00:20:07,940 --> 00:20:11,740 Four Corners has obtained one of the largest databases 434 00:20:11,740 --> 00:20:17,220 of private health medical bills for analysis into spinal surgery. 435 00:20:18,580 --> 00:20:21,540 We have access to six private health funds 436 00:20:21,540 --> 00:20:21,780 We have access representing 25% of the industry. 437 00:20:21,780 --> 00:20:25,060 representing 25% of the industry. 438 00:20:26,020 --> 00:20:29,100 An unfortunate reality in the Medicare system 439 00:20:29,100 --> 00:20:32,900 is what you did in the operating theatre 440 00:20:32,900 --> 00:20:35,420 and what you bill to Medicare 441 00:20:35,420 --> 00:20:37,940 can be two completely different things. 442 00:20:40,100 --> 00:20:41,580 In Australia 443 00:20:41,580 --> 00:20:41,820 medical billing In Australia 444 00:20:41,820 --> 00:20:44,340 medical billing is based on an honour system 445 00:20:44,340 --> 00:20:44,580 medical billing that doctors will bill correctly. 446 00:20:44,580 --> 00:20:46,500 that doctors will bill correctly. 447 00:20:47,460 --> 00:20:51,260 When they lodge a claim with private health funds and Medicare 448 00:20:51,260 --> 00:20:52,860 they are automatically paid 449 00:20:52,860 --> 00:20:55,580 without checking that the services were done. 450 00:20:55,580 --> 00:20:58,620 SIMON PECK: Medical bills are paid on the basis of trust. 451 00:20:58,620 --> 00:20:58,900 It's a trust which is not founded in reality SIMON PECK: Medical bills are paid on the basis of trust. 452 00:20:58,900 --> 00:21:01,220 It's a trust which is not founded in reality 453 00:21:01,220 --> 00:21:02,580 because after a while, 454 00:21:02,580 --> 00:21:05,260 when people realise that they're not being checked up on, 455 00:21:05,260 --> 00:21:05,540 when people realise that they're not being checked up on, they start first, perhaps, to push the boundaries. 456 00:21:05,540 --> 00:21:08,900 they start first, perhaps, to push the boundaries. 457 00:21:08,900 --> 00:21:10,820 There's an interesting trend there... 458 00:21:10,820 --> 00:21:15,420 Anaesthetist turned medical-fraud investigator Dr Simon Peck 459 00:21:15,420 --> 00:21:20,100 analysed the data of more than 23,000 anonymous patients 460 00:21:20,100 --> 00:21:20,340 analysed the data of more with his Cambridge-based colleagues 461 00:21:20,340 --> 00:21:22,420 with his Cambridge-based colleagues 462 00:21:22,420 --> 00:21:24,980 using their fraud-detection software. 463 00:21:25,940 --> 00:21:28,140 The same data was also probed 464 00:21:28,140 --> 00:21:31,660 by Sydney-based medical-billing specialist Synapse, 465 00:21:31,660 --> 00:21:33,580 run by Dr Margaret Faux. 466 00:21:34,500 --> 00:21:36,940 The experts looked for red flags 467 00:21:36,940 --> 00:21:40,300 such as inconsistencies in surgery times 468 00:21:40,300 --> 00:21:44,300 recorded by multiple people in the same operating theatre, 469 00:21:44,300 --> 00:21:44,540 recorded by multiple people who all bill separately. 470 00:21:44,540 --> 00:21:46,380 who all bill separately. 471 00:21:47,340 --> 00:21:49,020 We haven't looked at medical records, 472 00:21:49,020 --> 00:21:51,660 but there are many red flags in this data. 473 00:21:52,620 --> 00:21:55,940 This report suggests that there is a problem with misbilling 474 00:21:55,940 --> 00:21:57,700 and other things in the data. 475 00:21:57,700 --> 00:22:05,460 There were enough discrepancies in time and across the data 476 00:22:05,460 --> 00:22:08,420 for us to be able to spot the outliers. 477 00:22:09,780 --> 00:22:12,660 The findings are gobsmacking. 478 00:22:12,660 --> 00:22:16,300 Anaesthetists, who all bill in short blocks of time, 479 00:22:16,300 --> 00:22:16,540 Anaesthetists, were the worst offenders. 480 00:22:16,540 --> 00:22:18,500 were the worst offenders. 481 00:22:18,500 --> 00:22:20,220 In one health fund 482 00:22:20,220 --> 00:22:20,460 a staggering 87% billed an In one health fund 483 00:22:20,460 --> 00:22:25,420 a staggering 87% billed an anaesthetic time that was much longer 484 00:22:25,420 --> 00:22:29,420 than other people in the same operating theatre. 485 00:22:31,620 --> 00:22:33,300 There are huge discrepancies 486 00:22:33,300 --> 00:22:33,540 between the surgical time There are huge discrepancies 487 00:22:33,540 --> 00:22:36,100 between the surgical time and the anaesthetic time. 488 00:22:36,100 --> 00:22:39,380 They found it was common for each anaesthetist 489 00:22:39,380 --> 00:22:42,420 to charge an extra three to six hours, 490 00:22:42,420 --> 00:22:42,660 to charge an extra and in one case in New South Wales 491 00:22:42,660 --> 00:22:45,020 and in one case in New South Wales 492 00:22:45,020 --> 00:22:45,260 an anaesthetist and in one case in New South Wales 493 00:22:45,260 --> 00:22:48,260 an anaesthetist billed 14 hours of time 494 00:22:48,260 --> 00:22:53,340 for a surgery their colleagues said lasted less than an hour. 495 00:22:53,340 --> 00:22:55,460 I've looked at data from all around the world, 496 00:22:55,460 --> 00:22:58,980 and I would say the indicators of misbilling 497 00:22:58,980 --> 00:23:01,660 in the data that we were provided with 498 00:23:01,660 --> 00:23:01,900 in the data is at the top end of the scale. 499 00:23:01,900 --> 00:23:04,300 is at the top end of the scale. 500 00:23:06,460 --> 00:23:08,020 It gets worse. 501 00:23:09,340 --> 00:23:12,860 They were putting these very invasive lines 502 00:23:12,860 --> 00:23:13,140 into major arteries and veins of the body. They were putting these very invasive lines 503 00:23:13,140 --> 00:23:15,340 into major arteries and veins of the body. 504 00:23:15,340 --> 00:23:20,420 It's not like a drip. These are much more serious monitoring lines. 505 00:23:20,420 --> 00:23:20,700 It's not like a drip. These are much more serious monitoring lines. They're putting them into very, very young people, 506 00:23:20,700 --> 00:23:23,620 They're putting them into very, very young people, 507 00:23:23,620 --> 00:23:23,860 They're putting them you know, 20-year-olds. 508 00:23:23,860 --> 00:23:25,700 you know, 20-year-olds. 509 00:23:25,700 --> 00:23:28,780 And they're not without risk. They're dangerous. 510 00:23:28,780 --> 00:23:29,860 You know, so, 511 00:23:29,860 --> 00:23:34,580 the incidence of those going in to patients was through the roof. 512 00:23:35,540 --> 00:23:39,820 The use of invasive monitoring to monitor blood pressure 513 00:23:39,820 --> 00:23:43,020 in patients having quite minor procedures. 514 00:23:43,020 --> 00:23:45,260 That's not something I've seen anywhere else. 515 00:23:45,260 --> 00:23:45,500 That's not something Without specific medical records 516 00:23:45,500 --> 00:23:48,540 Without specific medical records 517 00:23:48,540 --> 00:23:51,340 it's impossible to be conclusive, 518 00:23:51,340 --> 00:23:52,940 but the experts found 519 00:23:52,940 --> 00:23:56,300 "There's a serious fraud, waste and abuse problem 520 00:23:56,300 --> 00:23:56,540 "There's a serious fraud, waste "requiring urgent attention." 521 00:23:56,540 --> 00:23:58,860 "requiring urgent attention." 522 00:23:58,860 --> 00:23:59,100 They're terms "requiring urgent attention." 523 00:23:59,100 --> 00:24:01,660 They're terms used widely in the industry 524 00:24:01,660 --> 00:24:06,860 and can cover conduct from errors to overservicing to fraud. 525 00:24:06,860 --> 00:24:11,660 They uncovered widespread problems within the pain industry. 526 00:24:11,660 --> 00:24:15,700 More than 20% of the medical bills for spinal surgery 527 00:24:15,700 --> 00:24:18,020 raised serious questions. 528 00:24:18,020 --> 00:24:21,100 And, alarmingly, they found some doctors 529 00:24:21,100 --> 00:24:25,660 were admitting people to ICU who don't need to be there. 530 00:24:25,660 --> 00:24:31,340 And this analysis just looks at one area - spinal surgery. 531 00:24:31,340 --> 00:24:36,220 (SIREN WAILS) 532 00:24:43,420 --> 00:24:47,380 We showed the findings to a team of leading healthcare experts. 533 00:24:49,100 --> 00:24:51,700 I'm Dr Chris Hayes. I'm a pain medicine specialist. 534 00:24:51,700 --> 00:24:55,340 Those findings have really profoundly shocked me. 535 00:24:57,020 --> 00:25:00,140 I'm Ian Harris. I'm professor of orthopaedic surgery 536 00:25:00,140 --> 00:25:02,780 and I've been a surgeon for nearly 30 years. 537 00:25:02,780 --> 00:25:03,020 and I've been a surgeon It's an enormous problem. 538 00:25:03,020 --> 00:25:04,260 It's an enormous problem. 539 00:25:04,260 --> 00:25:06,620 There's certainly a lack of oversight. Yeah. 540 00:25:06,620 --> 00:25:10,900 I mean, if it was policed in any kind of way, 541 00:25:10,900 --> 00:25:13,540 then you would find an immediate change in practice. 542 00:25:13,540 --> 00:25:16,060 That's for sure. I mean, it's obvious. 543 00:25:16,060 --> 00:25:18,100 I'm Dr Rachel David. 544 00:25:18,100 --> 00:25:18,340 I'm the CEO I'm Dr Rachel David. 545 00:25:18,340 --> 00:25:20,340 I'm the CEO of Private Healthcare Australia, 546 00:25:20,340 --> 00:25:23,340 which represents health insurance funds. 547 00:25:23,340 --> 00:25:26,020 In this quite narrowly defined treatment area, 548 00:25:26,020 --> 00:25:28,580 if we extrapolated across the whole industry, 549 00:25:28,580 --> 00:25:30,100 we're talking about half a billion dollars 550 00:25:30,100 --> 00:25:33,420 that is being lost to Medicare and private health insurance 551 00:25:33,420 --> 00:25:37,860 as a consequence of the poor billing behaviour. 552 00:25:37,860 --> 00:25:41,900 Are we looking at double exploitation here? 553 00:25:41,900 --> 00:25:42,140 Are we looking MARGARET FAUX: Yes! Definitely. 554 00:25:42,140 --> 00:25:43,820 MARGARET FAUX: Yes! Definitely. 555 00:25:43,820 --> 00:25:47,940 We are hitting the patient twice. 556 00:25:47,940 --> 00:25:50,460 We are exploiting them clinically 557 00:25:50,460 --> 00:25:50,700 by offering them We are exploiting them clinically 558 00:25:50,700 --> 00:25:53,460 by offering them treatments and procedures 559 00:25:53,460 --> 00:25:53,700 by offering them that can be harmful, 560 00:25:53,700 --> 00:25:55,100 that can be harmful, 561 00:25:55,100 --> 00:25:58,500 and then a second time financially. 562 00:25:58,500 --> 00:26:01,860 And you can't disconnect those two things 563 00:26:01,860 --> 00:26:04,340 because every clinical service that has to be provided 564 00:26:04,340 --> 00:26:04,580 because every clinical service has to be paid for. 565 00:26:04,580 --> 00:26:05,820 has to be paid for. 566 00:26:05,820 --> 00:26:09,620 So, you can't disconnect the clinical from the money, 567 00:26:09,620 --> 00:26:12,180 certainly not in a fee-for-service system. 568 00:26:12,180 --> 00:26:14,420 Those two things are inextricably linked. 569 00:26:17,220 --> 00:26:19,060 DAVID IZARD: I had no sense of direction 570 00:26:19,060 --> 00:26:21,900 for nearly 12 months after that. 571 00:26:21,900 --> 00:26:24,340 I just stayed home, 572 00:26:24,340 --> 00:26:25,900 tried to keep the place spotless 573 00:26:25,900 --> 00:26:26,100 'cause that's how Gayle liked it... tried to keep the place spotless 574 00:26:26,100 --> 00:26:27,980 'cause that's how Gayle liked it... 575 00:26:30,140 --> 00:26:32,700 ..and had nothing to do with... 576 00:26:33,660 --> 00:26:36,060 ..virtually anybody else. 577 00:26:39,980 --> 00:26:42,540 Retired policeman David Izard 578 00:26:42,540 --> 00:26:48,580 is still coming to terms with the sudden loss of his wife of 43 years. 579 00:26:48,580 --> 00:26:54,340 Gayle died after major spinal surgery in 2017. 580 00:26:54,340 --> 00:26:56,660 Her neurosurgeon was Tom Morris, 581 00:26:56,660 --> 00:27:00,540 who has since had conditions placed on him by the regulator, 582 00:27:00,540 --> 00:27:00,780 who has since had conditions but he can still operate. 583 00:27:00,780 --> 00:27:03,060 but he can still operate. 584 00:27:06,020 --> 00:27:12,900 Do you remember when you first met Mr Morris, what he was like? 585 00:27:14,420 --> 00:27:17,300 Mr Morris was like... 586 00:27:17,300 --> 00:27:20,420 ..a knight on a silver steed. 587 00:27:20,420 --> 00:27:22,420 He was just the light. 588 00:27:22,420 --> 00:27:28,420 He was just so confident and... 589 00:27:28,420 --> 00:27:30,060 ..yeah, just made you feel 590 00:27:30,060 --> 00:27:30,300 like finally you found someone ..yeah, just made you feel 591 00:27:30,300 --> 00:27:32,740 like finally you found someone after all these years 592 00:27:32,740 --> 00:27:36,020 who will make a difference immediately. 593 00:27:36,020 --> 00:27:38,140 He told us he's very good at his work 594 00:27:38,140 --> 00:27:42,980 and that, for Gayle to have any further surgery, 595 00:27:42,980 --> 00:27:46,020 you would need someone who had performed that type of surgery 596 00:27:46,020 --> 00:27:46,260 you would need someone who had in the past 597 00:27:46,260 --> 00:27:47,660 in the past 598 00:27:47,660 --> 00:27:53,180 and who was competent in doing that particular type of surgery 599 00:27:53,180 --> 00:27:55,420 and that he had that experience 600 00:27:55,420 --> 00:27:57,980 and that if anyone could help her 601 00:27:57,980 --> 00:27:59,180 it was him. 602 00:27:59,180 --> 00:28:03,820 He just swept both of us up. 603 00:28:03,820 --> 00:28:06,380 And she was in a lot of pain? 604 00:28:06,380 --> 00:28:08,940 Constant pain. Yes. She'd... 605 00:28:09,900 --> 00:28:13,740 She'd been suffering severe pain for many years. 606 00:28:15,020 --> 00:28:17,660 In '88 it was... 607 00:28:18,660 --> 00:28:21,740 ..debilitating and later on it became crippling. 608 00:28:23,660 --> 00:28:28,420 Gayle and David first met Mr Morris in 2017. 609 00:28:28,420 --> 00:28:33,100 He had been qualified as a neurosurgeon since 2016. 610 00:28:33,100 --> 00:28:33,380 He had been qualified as a neurosurgeon since 2016. a neurosurgeon for quite some time 611 00:28:33,380 --> 00:28:36,780 We assumed that he'd been a neurosurgeon for quite some time 612 00:28:36,780 --> 00:28:39,580 because the procedure he was talking about 613 00:28:39,580 --> 00:28:39,820 because the procedure we knew was going to be difficult. 614 00:28:39,820 --> 00:28:42,420 we knew was going to be difficult. 615 00:28:42,420 --> 00:28:45,940 (INDISTINCT CHATTER) 616 00:28:45,940 --> 00:28:46,180 Gayle was in poor health, (INDISTINCT CHATTER) 617 00:28:46,180 --> 00:28:51,180 Gayle was in poor health, making her higher risk for surgery. 618 00:28:52,140 --> 00:28:57,540 Mr Morris performed four major surgeries on her over seven months, 619 00:28:57,540 --> 00:28:57,820 three of them over an eight-week period. Mr Morris performed four major surgeries on her over seven months, 620 00:28:57,820 --> 00:29:02,060 three of them over an eight-week period. 621 00:29:02,060 --> 00:29:04,340 ALISON SPECK: Which was quite a huge undertaking 622 00:29:04,340 --> 00:29:04,580 because she was having Which was quite a huge undertaking 623 00:29:04,580 --> 00:29:05,500 because she was having 624 00:29:05,500 --> 00:29:10,380 from her thoracic spine down to her pelvis entirely fused. 625 00:29:10,380 --> 00:29:10,660 from her thoracic spine down to her pelvis entirely fused. It's quite a significant undertaking. 626 00:29:10,660 --> 00:29:12,620 It's quite a significant undertaking. 627 00:29:13,900 --> 00:29:16,980 Something went horribly wrong. 628 00:29:16,980 --> 00:29:21,260 I got a phone call from Tom to say that everything had gone well. 629 00:29:21,260 --> 00:29:22,900 I got another phone call from Tom 630 00:29:22,900 --> 00:29:27,220 to say that Gayle had had a catastrophic brain injury. 631 00:29:27,220 --> 00:29:29,940 "Get in here, she's not going to make it." 632 00:29:31,500 --> 00:29:35,260 Former neurosurgical nurse and lawyer Alison Speck 633 00:29:35,260 --> 00:29:39,180 is running a medical-negligence case against Mr Morris. 634 00:29:40,580 --> 00:29:43,660 There's two main allegations of negligence. 635 00:29:43,660 --> 00:29:45,940 The first is that it was actually unreasonable 636 00:29:45,940 --> 00:29:49,100 to have recommended that procedure in the first place 637 00:29:49,100 --> 00:29:49,340 to have recommended that procedure and performed it on Gayle. 638 00:29:49,340 --> 00:29:50,860 and performed it on Gayle. 639 00:29:50,860 --> 00:29:53,100 And the second is an issue of consent. 640 00:29:54,780 --> 00:29:56,540 Multiple hospital records show 641 00:29:56,540 --> 00:30:01,500 in the days before surgery Gayle got cold feet. 642 00:30:01,500 --> 00:30:03,140 Hours before the operation 643 00:30:03,140 --> 00:30:05,740 she told a nurse of her doubts. 644 00:30:07,020 --> 00:30:09,660 Their nursing staff 645 00:30:09,660 --> 00:30:12,180 noting that Gayle has said to them 646 00:30:12,180 --> 00:30:14,420 words to the effect of, "She's scared. 647 00:30:14,420 --> 00:30:14,660 words to the effect of, "She wants to call the surgery off. 648 00:30:14,660 --> 00:30:16,020 "She wants to call the surgery off. 649 00:30:16,020 --> 00:30:17,860 "She doesn't want go ahead. 650 00:30:17,860 --> 00:30:19,220 "She's frightened." 651 00:30:20,180 --> 00:30:23,340 And that they would notify Mr Morris. 652 00:30:23,340 --> 00:30:28,580 We don't know if that message was passed on to Mr Moris. 653 00:30:28,580 --> 00:30:30,020 But then she has the surgery. 654 00:30:30,020 --> 00:30:30,220 She had the surgery. But then she has the surgery. 655 00:30:30,220 --> 00:30:31,420 She had the surgery. 656 00:30:31,420 --> 00:30:33,060 There's nothing in the notes 657 00:30:33,060 --> 00:30:33,300 to suggest that Mr Morris There's nothing in the notes 658 00:30:33,300 --> 00:30:37,580 to suggest that Mr Morris spoke to her or attended 659 00:30:37,580 --> 00:30:41,140 because there's nothing in the progress notes from him. 660 00:30:42,340 --> 00:30:44,260 In his legal defence 661 00:30:44,260 --> 00:30:44,500 Mr Morris says he discussed the risks In his legal defence 662 00:30:44,500 --> 00:30:48,860 Mr Morris says he discussed the risks with Gayle and David. 663 00:30:48,860 --> 00:30:49,100 Mr Morris says he discussed the risks He denies medical negligence 664 00:30:49,100 --> 00:30:51,340 He denies medical negligence 665 00:30:51,340 --> 00:30:55,220 and says Gayle didn't withdraw consent. 666 00:30:55,220 --> 00:31:00,780 Medical records show he'd outlined the risks of surgery to Gayle. 667 00:31:00,780 --> 00:31:03,020 Mr Morris says he also received 668 00:31:03,020 --> 00:31:07,300 messages of gratitude from David Izard after Gayle's death, 669 00:31:07,300 --> 00:31:10,100 and he says he's never financially motivated 670 00:31:10,100 --> 00:31:10,340 and he says when doing surgical interventions. 671 00:31:10,340 --> 00:31:13,100 when doing surgical interventions. 672 00:31:14,260 --> 00:31:17,740 Gayle wasn't Mr Morris's only poor outcome 673 00:31:17,740 --> 00:31:22,940 according to a 2021 decision by Victorian tribunal VCAT. 674 00:31:22,940 --> 00:31:25,940 It found "he poses a serious risk." 675 00:31:25,940 --> 00:31:27,740 VCAT documents show 676 00:31:27,740 --> 00:31:27,980 he operated on the wrong part of an 81-year-old's spine VCAT documents show 677 00:31:27,980 --> 00:31:32,220 he operated on the wrong part of an 81-year-old's spine 678 00:31:32,220 --> 00:31:32,460 at a regional hospital in 2018, of an 81-year-old's spine 679 00:31:32,460 --> 00:31:35,180 at a regional hospital in 2018, 680 00:31:35,180 --> 00:31:35,420 at a regional hospital in 2018, with surgical complications 681 00:31:35,420 --> 00:31:39,020 and it noted 22 patients with surgical complications 682 00:31:39,020 --> 00:31:39,260 at Epworth, Richmond, with surgical complications 683 00:31:39,260 --> 00:31:40,660 at Epworth, Richmond, 684 00:31:40,660 --> 00:31:44,500 between 2017 and early 2018. 685 00:31:45,460 --> 00:31:47,740 Epworth's notes say he was reluctant 686 00:31:47,740 --> 00:31:51,060 to reduce the number of spinal surgeries. 687 00:31:52,460 --> 00:31:55,660 ALISON SPECK: So, you can see from the VCAT judgement 688 00:31:55,660 --> 00:31:55,940 ALISON SPECK: So, you can see from the VCAT judgement that they think Mr Morris poses a risk to the public as a surgeon, 689 00:31:55,940 --> 00:32:00,300 that they think Mr Morris poses a risk to the public as a surgeon, 690 00:32:00,300 --> 00:32:01,900 and they took immediate action 691 00:32:01,900 --> 00:32:04,780 to make sure that there are restrictions 692 00:32:04,780 --> 00:32:07,100 on his practising certificate, essentially, 693 00:32:07,100 --> 00:32:07,340 on his practising certificate, what he can and can't do. 694 00:32:07,340 --> 00:32:08,620 what he can and can't do. 695 00:32:09,580 --> 00:32:15,220 VCAT heard that Epworth didn't impose any restrictions on Mr Morris. 696 00:32:15,220 --> 00:32:17,260 It tried to deal with him internally, 697 00:32:17,260 --> 00:32:20,060 but he resigned in June 2018. 698 00:32:23,020 --> 00:32:24,860 Just a few months later 699 00:32:24,860 --> 00:32:25,100 there were more Just a few months later 700 00:32:25,100 --> 00:32:27,620 there were more patient complications, 701 00:32:27,620 --> 00:32:27,860 there were more this time at St Vincent's. 702 00:32:27,860 --> 00:32:30,100 this time at St Vincent's. 703 00:32:30,100 --> 00:32:33,420 They reported him to the regulator, AHPRA. 704 00:32:33,420 --> 00:32:33,660 They reported him to the regulator, Epworth declined to answer questions, 705 00:32:33,660 --> 00:32:35,660 Epworth declined to answer questions, 706 00:32:35,660 --> 00:32:35,900 but said patient safety Epworth declined to answer questions, 707 00:32:35,900 --> 00:32:39,740 but said patient safety is a priority. 708 00:32:41,620 --> 00:32:45,420 I understand that they undertook their own review 709 00:32:45,420 --> 00:32:49,700 following some quite significant and awful outcomes there, 710 00:32:49,700 --> 00:32:53,900 and that sort of triggered AHPRA to investigate 711 00:32:53,900 --> 00:32:54,140 and that sort of triggered AHPRA and, therefore, impose restrictions. 712 00:32:54,140 --> 00:32:56,380 and, therefore, impose restrictions. 713 00:32:57,500 --> 00:33:02,180 A VCAT ruling allows him to still operate as a surgeon, 714 00:33:02,180 --> 00:33:07,500 but under his current restrictions he must consult with a supervisor. 715 00:33:07,500 --> 00:33:10,820 He's also allowed to be a surgical assistant. 716 00:33:10,820 --> 00:33:11,060 He's also allowed Mr Morris declined to be interviewed. 717 00:33:11,060 --> 00:33:14,060 Mr Morris declined to be interviewed. 718 00:33:15,500 --> 00:33:18,980 There's some obvious cowboys out there. 719 00:33:20,940 --> 00:33:23,820 Unfortunately, we met one. 720 00:33:25,500 --> 00:33:27,380 Mr Morris's medical billing 721 00:33:27,380 --> 00:33:31,460 was also flagged in the VCAT documents by experts, 722 00:33:31,460 --> 00:33:33,460 which he disputed. 723 00:33:34,820 --> 00:33:39,220 We asked Dr Faux to look at Gayle's health bills. 724 00:33:39,220 --> 00:33:44,340 MARGARET FAUX: Gayle's records raised the most concerns for me. 725 00:33:44,340 --> 00:33:44,580 So, this included MARGARET FAUX: Gayle's records raised the most concerns for me. 726 00:33:44,580 --> 00:33:46,220 So, this included 727 00:33:46,220 --> 00:33:49,580 billing for surgical procedures 728 00:33:49,580 --> 00:33:52,580 that may not have been performed 729 00:33:52,580 --> 00:33:52,780 that may not have been performed and billing for hospital visits 730 00:33:52,780 --> 00:33:55,980 and billing for hospital visits 731 00:33:55,980 --> 00:33:56,220 when there is no evidence in the and billing for hospital visits 732 00:33:56,220 --> 00:34:01,180 when there is no evidence in the record that those visits took place. 733 00:34:01,180 --> 00:34:01,420 when there is no evidence in the And, in fact, on one date 734 00:34:01,420 --> 00:34:03,660 And, in fact, on one date 735 00:34:03,660 --> 00:34:06,100 Gayle wasn't even in hospital, 736 00:34:06,100 --> 00:34:10,300 yet a hospital visit was billed and paid, 737 00:34:10,300 --> 00:34:13,420 and it needs to be further investigated. 738 00:34:17,340 --> 00:34:19,340 DAVID IZARD: It's just not the same. 739 00:34:19,340 --> 00:34:21,300 It never will be. 740 00:34:22,740 --> 00:34:26,340 Sure, I've got some friends, but I miss my mate. 741 00:34:28,620 --> 00:34:32,860 We just saw that ray of light and thought, "You beauty, 742 00:34:32,860 --> 00:34:35,620 "there's the tunnel, there's a light at the end of it." 743 00:34:36,740 --> 00:34:40,540 But it was just a train that came down and whacked us so hard. 744 00:34:43,260 --> 00:34:45,100 For the last six months 745 00:34:45,100 --> 00:34:47,940 I've been investigating the pain industry, 746 00:34:47,940 --> 00:34:48,180 I've been investigating and what's alarmed me most 747 00:34:48,180 --> 00:34:49,980 and what's alarmed me most 748 00:34:49,980 --> 00:34:52,460 has been the slowness of the regulators, 749 00:34:52,460 --> 00:34:55,540 who are supposed to keep patients safe. 750 00:34:56,860 --> 00:35:00,780 The Therapeutic Goods Administration, or TGA, 751 00:35:00,780 --> 00:35:02,820 regulates medical devices. 752 00:35:02,820 --> 00:35:04,980 It runs a database 753 00:35:04,980 --> 00:35:09,020 that tracks harmful and negative patient outcomes. 754 00:35:09,020 --> 00:35:13,580 The TGA says there's been more than 2,000 adverse-event reports 755 00:35:13,580 --> 00:35:15,980 related to spinal-cord stimulators. 756 00:35:30,140 --> 00:35:32,500 Does that sound high to you? 757 00:35:32,500 --> 00:35:32,740 Yeah, look, it does. It sounds alarming to me. Does that sound high to you? 758 00:35:32,740 --> 00:35:36,940 Yeah, look, it does. It sounds alarming to me. 759 00:35:36,940 --> 00:35:40,100 The last major scandal that we've dealt with 760 00:35:40,100 --> 00:35:40,340 The last major scandal that we've dealt with in terms of medical implants 761 00:35:40,340 --> 00:35:42,340 in terms of medical implants 762 00:35:42,340 --> 00:35:48,140 was the use of hernia mesh for pelvic organ prolapse in women. 763 00:35:48,140 --> 00:35:48,380 was the use of hernia mesh For mesh over the same period 764 00:35:48,380 --> 00:35:51,420 For mesh over the same period 765 00:35:51,420 --> 00:35:51,660 there were 224 adverse events For mesh over the same period 766 00:35:51,660 --> 00:35:55,700 there were 224 adverse events reported, 767 00:35:55,700 --> 00:35:59,900 and that, as we know now, was a major scandal 768 00:35:59,900 --> 00:36:02,420 in which a number of patients came to harm. 769 00:36:04,140 --> 00:36:08,020 We also uncovered vast underreporting. 770 00:36:08,020 --> 00:36:11,260 One of the biggest device companies, Medtronics, 771 00:36:11,260 --> 00:36:11,500 One of the biggest device companies, had fewer than 10 adverse events 772 00:36:11,500 --> 00:36:13,900 had fewer than 10 adverse events 773 00:36:13,900 --> 00:36:14,140 related to its spinal-cord had fewer than 10 adverse events 774 00:36:14,140 --> 00:36:16,580 related to its spinal-cord stimulators 775 00:36:16,580 --> 00:36:16,820 related to its spinal-cord in the database over a decade. 776 00:36:16,820 --> 00:36:19,900 in the database over a decade. 777 00:36:19,900 --> 00:36:23,500 We asked the private health funds to run the numbers. 778 00:36:26,260 --> 00:36:30,220 We looked at 764 Medtronic generators 779 00:36:30,220 --> 00:36:33,100 that were...or stimulators that were implanted, 780 00:36:33,100 --> 00:36:33,340 that were...or stimulators and, of those, 30% were revised 781 00:36:33,340 --> 00:36:37,300 and, of those, 30% were revised 782 00:36:37,300 --> 00:36:41,140 or required some sort of premature surgical intervention 783 00:36:41,140 --> 00:36:43,380 to reset them within the first three years, 784 00:36:43,380 --> 00:36:46,420 which would be either that the device was replaced 785 00:36:46,420 --> 00:36:46,660 which would be either or a lead was replaced. 786 00:36:46,660 --> 00:36:48,380 or a lead was replaced. 787 00:36:49,340 --> 00:36:52,060 Australian sponsors of medical devices 788 00:36:52,060 --> 00:36:56,860 are legally required to report adverse events to the TGA, 789 00:36:56,860 --> 00:37:00,540 but the TGA has never taken any action 790 00:37:00,540 --> 00:37:03,180 for failures to report an adverse event 791 00:37:03,180 --> 00:37:05,860 relating to spinal-cord stimulators. 792 00:37:05,860 --> 00:37:11,820 Medtronics denies underreporting and says it follows the TGA rules. 793 00:37:15,260 --> 00:37:19,780 We can't find evidence that Teresa or Gordon's stimulator horror stories 794 00:37:19,780 --> 00:37:20,020 We can't find evidence that Teresa were ever reported. 795 00:37:20,020 --> 00:37:21,820 were ever reported. 796 00:37:21,820 --> 00:37:26,500 The device companies won't comment on individual patients. 797 00:37:26,500 --> 00:37:30,860 They say their devices are safe and abide by the law. 798 00:37:33,300 --> 00:37:38,580 I can't understand why the TGA haven't done more. 799 00:37:38,580 --> 00:37:38,820 I can't understand I can't understand 800 00:37:38,820 --> 00:37:40,060 I can't understand 801 00:37:40,060 --> 00:37:40,260 I can't understand why the stimulator companies 802 00:37:40,260 --> 00:37:42,980 why the stimulator companies 803 00:37:42,980 --> 00:37:44,980 don't ring up people like me 804 00:37:44,980 --> 00:37:48,380 or even get me down to their big fancy offices 805 00:37:48,380 --> 00:37:52,060 and say, well, you know, "What are the symptoms you've had? 806 00:37:52,060 --> 00:37:55,820 "How do we improve this?" 807 00:37:55,820 --> 00:37:57,620 All that sort of stuff. 808 00:37:57,620 --> 00:38:02,140 The job of the regulator is to keep people safe. 809 00:38:02,140 --> 00:38:05,340 When it comes to spinal-cord stimulators 810 00:38:05,340 --> 00:38:08,020 its performance has been appalling. 811 00:38:08,020 --> 00:38:12,340 Its own database is littered with people who've been hurt 812 00:38:12,340 --> 00:38:12,580 Its own database is littered by a device they believe is safe. 813 00:38:12,580 --> 00:38:15,540 by a device they believe is safe. 814 00:38:15,540 --> 00:38:18,420 The regulator launched a review, 815 00:38:18,420 --> 00:38:20,180 but that was two years ago 816 00:38:20,180 --> 00:38:22,260 and we're still waiting. 817 00:38:23,860 --> 00:38:28,420 We asked the TGA for an interview, but it couldn't make the time. 818 00:38:28,420 --> 00:38:31,100 In a statement it said approval of a device 819 00:38:31,100 --> 00:38:34,580 is based on the available evidence at the time. 820 00:38:34,580 --> 00:38:34,820 is based on the available evidence It said patient safety is a priority. 821 00:38:34,820 --> 00:38:38,580 It said patient safety is a priority. 822 00:38:39,860 --> 00:38:42,060 It's no surprise 823 00:38:42,060 --> 00:38:46,540 some private pain clinics are making a fortune from stimulators, 824 00:38:46,540 --> 00:38:50,300 and the funds paying for them aren't happy. 825 00:38:50,300 --> 00:38:53,900 You're representing the private health funds. 826 00:38:53,900 --> 00:38:57,820 Many people would see them as making big profits. 827 00:38:57,820 --> 00:38:58,060 Many people would see them They were up 110% last year 828 00:38:58,060 --> 00:39:00,540 They were up 110% last year 829 00:39:00,540 --> 00:39:02,580 while premiums are going up, 830 00:39:02,580 --> 00:39:02,820 and people are complaining that while premiums are going up, 831 00:39:02,820 --> 00:39:06,380 and people are complaining that they're not getting as many services 832 00:39:06,380 --> 00:39:06,620 and people are complaining that for what they're paying for. 833 00:39:06,620 --> 00:39:08,380 for what they're paying for. 834 00:39:08,380 --> 00:39:11,780 How do you answer those sort of criticisms? 835 00:39:11,780 --> 00:39:12,020 I'm absolutely confident How do you answer those sort of criticisms? 836 00:39:12,020 --> 00:39:14,540 I'm absolutely confident 837 00:39:14,540 --> 00:39:17,260 that the health funds would spend even more money 838 00:39:17,260 --> 00:39:17,500 that the health funds if they knew 839 00:39:17,500 --> 00:39:18,780 if they knew 840 00:39:18,780 --> 00:39:19,020 if they knew that it was on treatments that were working. 841 00:39:19,020 --> 00:39:21,020 that it was on treatments that were working. 842 00:39:21,020 --> 00:39:23,500 What we're seeing with what we ARE spending 843 00:39:23,500 --> 00:39:27,460 is that it is simply putting people on a hamster wheel 844 00:39:27,460 --> 00:39:33,540 of more treatment, hospital admissions and revision surgery. 845 00:39:33,540 --> 00:39:36,940 That is not a good investment in people's care. 846 00:39:38,660 --> 00:39:40,900 Pain specialist Dr Chris Hayes 847 00:39:40,900 --> 00:39:45,020 stopped implanting stimulators 20 years ago. 848 00:39:45,020 --> 00:39:45,260 stopped implanting stimulators CHRIS HAYES: I found that people 849 00:39:45,260 --> 00:39:46,500 CHRIS HAYES: I found that people 850 00:39:46,500 --> 00:39:46,740 were just not making CHRIS HAYES: I found that people 851 00:39:46,740 --> 00:39:49,420 were just not making good improvements, 852 00:39:49,420 --> 00:39:49,660 were just not making and, to my mind, 853 00:39:49,660 --> 00:39:50,580 and, to my mind, 854 00:39:50,580 --> 00:39:53,860 nothing substantial has changed in the scientific evidence 855 00:39:53,860 --> 00:39:55,540 over the last 20 years 856 00:39:55,540 --> 00:39:57,740 other than to reinforce the view 857 00:39:57,740 --> 00:40:00,940 that this hasn't got good evidence to support it 858 00:40:00,940 --> 00:40:03,660 and that there is a substantial risk of harm. 859 00:40:08,500 --> 00:40:10,460 The pain industry is... 860 00:40:11,420 --> 00:40:13,460 ..an interesting place in Australia. 861 00:40:13,460 --> 00:40:13,700 It is a bit of a jungle ..an interesting place in Australia. 862 00:40:13,700 --> 00:40:15,580 It is a bit of a jungle in some ways. 863 00:40:24,420 --> 00:40:29,740 JASON PARKER: I just managed to find a way to see a life 864 00:40:29,740 --> 00:40:34,300 without depending on anything to support my pain. 865 00:40:34,300 --> 00:40:39,420 My desire was to live with colour and joy. 866 00:40:40,380 --> 00:40:42,020 That had all been removed 867 00:40:42,020 --> 00:40:43,900 by the spinal-cord stimulator, 868 00:40:43,900 --> 00:40:45,900 the opioids, the nerve pain, 869 00:40:45,900 --> 00:40:46,140 the opioids, the nerve pain, the injections, the steroids, the...everything else. 870 00:40:46,140 --> 00:40:48,860 the injections, the steroids, the...everything else. 871 00:40:48,860 --> 00:40:51,820 So, the only way I was going to come out of that 872 00:40:51,820 --> 00:40:53,860 was find a way to leave those behind. 873 00:40:58,140 --> 00:41:00,860 Jason Parker felt like a prisoner 874 00:41:00,860 --> 00:41:04,420 trapped inside the pain industry for years. 875 00:41:04,420 --> 00:41:04,660 trapped inside the pain industry Now he's finally made it out. 876 00:41:04,660 --> 00:41:07,260 Now he's finally made it out. 877 00:41:08,220 --> 00:41:11,100 So, when was the turning point? 878 00:41:11,100 --> 00:41:13,020 Um... 879 00:41:13,020 --> 00:41:13,220 Um... When I got the machine out. 880 00:41:13,220 --> 00:41:15,500 When I got the machine out. 881 00:41:19,940 --> 00:41:23,260 Jason's medical history is harrowing. 882 00:41:23,260 --> 00:41:25,660 He was in a terrible car accident, 883 00:41:25,660 --> 00:41:27,860 leaving him in agony. 884 00:41:27,860 --> 00:41:31,540 He later lost his legs to an infection. 885 00:41:31,540 --> 00:41:31,780 He later lost his legs He's had the works - 886 00:41:31,780 --> 00:41:33,660 He's had the works - 887 00:41:33,660 --> 00:41:36,060 surgeries, stimulators, 888 00:41:36,060 --> 00:41:37,860 spinal fusion. 889 00:41:38,820 --> 00:41:41,980 A lot of people are making an awful lot of money out of people's misery. 890 00:41:47,380 --> 00:41:51,340 I just was wasting away in a bedroom, essentially. 891 00:41:51,340 --> 00:41:53,540 The financial impact of not being able to work 892 00:41:53,540 --> 00:41:53,780 The financial impact meant you had to go on the dole, 893 00:41:53,780 --> 00:41:55,300 meant you had to go on the dole, 894 00:41:55,300 --> 00:41:57,580 so, I was in my parents' third bedroom. 895 00:41:57,580 --> 00:41:58,860 I lost my house. 896 00:41:58,860 --> 00:41:59,860 I went... 897 00:41:59,860 --> 00:42:01,460 Everything gone. 898 00:42:03,620 --> 00:42:08,900 Jason had 10 spinal-cord stimulator operations over five years. 899 00:42:10,620 --> 00:42:15,420 I was expecting him to say, "Listen, mate, this ain't working. 900 00:42:15,420 --> 00:42:17,100 "Let's just call it quits, 901 00:42:17,100 --> 00:42:19,580 "and I'm not going to put you through anymore." 902 00:42:19,580 --> 00:42:22,900 But it was always there was another thing he could do to fix it. 903 00:42:27,260 --> 00:42:29,540 Do you think it was the worst decision of your life? 904 00:42:29,540 --> 00:42:29,780 Do you think it was Absolutely. 905 00:42:29,780 --> 00:42:30,900 Absolutely. 906 00:42:30,900 --> 00:42:32,700 They're Frankenstein machines. 907 00:42:32,700 --> 00:42:34,780 They are not built for the human body. 908 00:42:35,740 --> 00:42:37,940 And it's sold as the dream. 909 00:42:37,940 --> 00:42:40,420 It's sold as the "We've got your answer." 910 00:42:40,420 --> 00:42:42,220 Now, I sometimes feel 911 00:42:42,220 --> 00:42:44,100 that the answer was provided 912 00:42:44,100 --> 00:42:47,300 because I had the highest medical cover. 913 00:42:48,260 --> 00:42:52,700 It's been a year since Jason had his stimulator removed. 914 00:42:52,700 --> 00:42:52,940 It's been a year since I still am in pain, 915 00:42:52,940 --> 00:42:54,700 I still am in pain, 916 00:42:54,700 --> 00:42:57,340 but I've learned to live and understand 917 00:42:57,340 --> 00:42:57,580 but I've learned how my body deals with pain. 918 00:42:57,580 --> 00:43:01,220 how my body deals with pain. 919 00:43:01,220 --> 00:43:02,900 I hope that somebody is out there 920 00:43:02,900 --> 00:43:07,460 going, "You know what? Maybe I won't take that step first." 921 00:43:08,420 --> 00:43:09,900 What's clear - 922 00:43:09,900 --> 00:43:10,140 this industry What's clear - 923 00:43:10,140 --> 00:43:13,620 this industry can't cure chronic pain, 924 00:43:13,620 --> 00:43:13,860 this industry but over-treatment is rife 925 00:43:13,860 --> 00:43:16,180 but over-treatment is rife 926 00:43:16,180 --> 00:43:18,700 as the vulnerable seek hope 927 00:43:18,700 --> 00:43:18,940 and some unscrupulous practitioners as the vulnerable seek hope 928 00:43:18,940 --> 00:43:23,860 and some unscrupulous practitioners see opportunity. 929 00:43:23,860 --> 00:43:26,100 There is a big business element to this, 930 00:43:26,100 --> 00:43:29,580 given that one in five Australians or thereabouts 931 00:43:29,580 --> 00:43:29,820 given that one in five Australians experience chronic pain. 932 00:43:29,820 --> 00:43:31,860 experience chronic pain. 933 00:43:31,860 --> 00:43:32,100 It could be said they're walking experience chronic pain. 934 00:43:32,100 --> 00:43:34,580 It could be said they're walking around with a big dollar sign 935 00:43:34,580 --> 00:43:34,820 It could be said they're walking hanging around their neck. 936 00:43:34,820 --> 00:43:37,060 hanging around their neck. 937 00:43:38,300 --> 00:43:42,020 IAN HARRIS: I find that chronic pain is not well-treated 938 00:43:42,020 --> 00:43:44,260 by cutting people and operating on them. 939 00:43:45,220 --> 00:43:48,580 So, you have to start thinking more scientifically and objectively 940 00:43:48,580 --> 00:43:48,820 So, you have to start thinking before offering the treatment. 941 00:43:48,820 --> 00:43:50,620 before offering the treatment. 942 00:43:50,620 --> 00:43:50,860 But there's no... before offering the treatment. 943 00:43:50,860 --> 00:43:53,420 But there's no... there's no policing of that. 944 00:43:53,420 --> 00:43:57,660 I can offer a spine fusion on every patient that comes to see me 945 00:43:57,660 --> 00:44:01,660 with a degenerative disc in their back. 946 00:44:01,660 --> 00:44:03,540 Nobody's going to stop me from doing that. 947 00:44:05,700 --> 00:44:07,420 And there's little appetite 948 00:44:07,420 --> 00:44:11,220 to change a system desperate for reform. 949 00:44:12,180 --> 00:44:13,980 And are you in pain now? 950 00:44:13,980 --> 00:44:15,060 Oh, yeah. 951 00:44:15,060 --> 00:44:16,260 Yeah. 952 00:44:16,260 --> 00:44:17,460 Yes. 953 00:44:18,420 --> 00:44:20,060 Always. 954 00:44:20,060 --> 00:44:22,780 I was a victim to it. 955 00:44:22,780 --> 00:44:26,220 It's just the most horrific thing. 956 00:44:26,220 --> 00:44:29,340 The only peace I get is when I'm asleep. 957 00:44:40,500 --> 00:44:43,380 It really has destroyed our lives. 958 00:44:44,820 --> 00:44:47,060 DAVID IZARD: Once you get on that merry-go-round, 959 00:44:47,060 --> 00:44:48,780 it's extremely difficult to get off. 960 00:44:51,380 --> 00:44:53,620 Don't do it. Don't do it. 961 00:44:54,580 --> 00:44:59,180 Why does all of this matter? What's so important about it? 962 00:44:59,180 --> 00:45:03,660 MARGARET FAUX: It matters because it depletes our health system 963 00:45:03,660 --> 00:45:03,900 MARGARET FAUX: It matters because of the money it needs, 964 00:45:03,900 --> 00:45:06,140 of the money it needs, 965 00:45:06,140 --> 00:45:07,900 and it's a patient-safety issue. 966 00:45:07,900 --> 00:45:09,580 It's both. 967 00:45:09,580 --> 00:45:12,740 So, it's misappropriation of funds 968 00:45:12,740 --> 00:45:15,340 and you're putting patients at risk. 969 00:45:15,340 --> 00:45:18,780 So, it matters a great deal. 970 00:45:18,780 --> 00:45:20,980 If we don't keep shining a light 971 00:45:20,980 --> 00:45:23,780 into this very dark part of the health system, 972 00:45:23,780 --> 00:45:24,020 into this very dark part it will soon collapse. 973 00:45:24,020 --> 00:45:26,500 it will soon collapse. 974 00:45:26,500 --> 00:45:29,020 It's littered with waste and abuse. 975 00:45:29,980 --> 00:45:34,260 And I think Australians deserve to know the truth. 976 00:45:35,140 --> 00:45:36,980 Don't you? 977 00:45:40,300 --> 00:45:43,780 TERESA BURBERY: It's left me in worse pain 978 00:45:43,780 --> 00:45:44,020 TERESA BURBERY: than I could ever have imagined. 979 00:45:44,020 --> 00:45:45,900 than I could ever have imagined. 980 00:45:45,900 --> 00:45:48,020 It's taken my mobility. 981 00:45:49,140 --> 00:45:51,420 It's taken my business. 982 00:45:52,380 --> 00:45:54,100 Taken my career. 983 00:45:55,060 --> 00:45:57,860 Taken my dignity at times. 984 00:46:00,260 --> 00:46:02,140 Taken relationships. 985 00:46:04,580 --> 00:46:09,780 And it's been the biggest injustice that I've ever faced in my life. 986 00:46:19,420 --> 00:46:21,460 (THEME MUSIC PLAYS) 987 00:46:36,540 --> 00:46:38,420 Captions by Red Bee Media 988 00:46:38,420 --> 00:46:38,660 Copyright Australian Broadcasting Corporation Captions by Red Bee Media 989 00:46:38,660 --> 00:46:40,620 Copyright Australian Broadcasting Corporation