South Australia's BreastScreen program conducted research on nearly 100 women without consent or ethics approval

The South Australian Ombudsman found that BreastScreen SA conducted research on approximately 100 women with new or enlarging benign lumps without obtaining ethics approval or patient consent, according to ABC News Australia. The investigation represents a significant breach of research ethics standards in a publicly funded medical screening program. The finding raises questions about informed consent protections in medical research conducted by government health agencies, a concern applicable across healthcare systems globally. The report prompted the Ombudsman to take action against the program, though details on remedial steps remain under review.