Do No Harm: The doctors who break their sacred oath but are still allowed to practice

Do No Harm: The doctors who break their sacred oath but are still allowed to practise

This week Four Corners reveals Australia's system of health regulation is allowing doctors who have groped, dated and even raped their patients to continue practising.

A six-month investigation into the health complaints handling process has found hundreds of practitioners have been sanctioned by tribunals for sexual misconduct involving patients since 2010.

Many are still registered to work.

Reporter Emily Baker has forensically analysed over a decade's worth of healthcare complaints and uncovered a complex and unwieldy system struggling to protect the public from sexual predators.

The program follows several disturbing cases -- patients tell Baker harrowing stories of betrayal at the hands of those entrusted with their care – and the system that struggled to respond.

Baker investigates where the system is failing and asks how it could be improved.

Do No Harm reported by Emily Baker airs on Monday 6th February at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 7th February at 11:30pm and Wednesday 8th February at 10am on ABC TV. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Tuesday at 9:15pm AEDT and Saturday at 8:10pm AEDT, or anytime on ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.

Next week, Emily Baker continues the investigation on Background Briefing where she delves into the disturbing reality of sexual misconduct by mental health professionals.