The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) says it wants to “raise the bar” to protect patients from sexual misconduct. 

AHPRA says it is investigating 933 sexual misconduct complaints, more than 400 of which are aimed at doctors.

The regulator is seeking reforms that would give patients equal representation on key decision-making boards, reducing the influence of doctors, nurses and other health professionals over the fate of their peers.

It follows media investigations that exposed Australia's system of health regulation allows doctors who have groped, dated, molested, or had sex with their patients to continue practising.

AHPRA says it will also start public consultation on existing criminal history standards and boost support to complainants.