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Shocking new details in alleged hit and run that killed Police Commissioner's son

Shocking details have emerged from the <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/police-commissioner-s-son-killed-during-schoolies-week" target="_blank" rel="noopener">alleged hit-and-run</a> crash that killed South Australia's Police Commissioner's son Charlie Stevens. At Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Wednesday, three witnesses of the incident claimed accused hit-and-run driver Dhirren Randhawa, 18, did a U-turn in his car and drove into 18-year-old Charlie, while he was waiting for a Schoolies shuttle bus. The witnesses, who were waiting with Charlie, say they flagged down Mr Randhawa to see if they could hitch a ride. However, the driver realised he didn't have enough room in the car for the whole group, and drove away before doing a U-turn, according to the witnesses. Court documents revealed that he then allegedly sped up and started travelling on the wrong side of the road before hitting Charlie and driving away. The witness states Mr Randhawa then drove a short distance before calling his mother and asking whether he should turn himself into a police station or call the police. As he was talking to her, the police arrived and arrested him, the witness said. However, another witness told a different version of events, saying Charlie ran in front of Mr Randhawa's car. Mr Randhawa left the courtroom with his mother by his side after being granted bail. Randhawa has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, aggravated driving without due care, leaving the scene of a crash after causing death and failing to truly answer questions. Charlie sustained irreversible brain damage from the incident, and died 24 hours later in hospital <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/nat-barr-overwhelmed-by-police-commissioner-s-heartbreaking-letter-to-his-fallen-son" target="_blank" rel="noopener">surrounded by his family</a>. Image credits: Facebook

Legal

Police Commissioner's son killed during schoolies week

The son of South Australia's police commissioner has tragically died after an alleged hit and run. Charlie Stevens, 18, was celebrating the end of high school when he was run down on Friday evening in Goolwa, about 90km southeast of Adelaide. Charlie sustained irreversible brain damage from the incident, and died 24 hours later in hospital surrounded by his family. Police said the 18-year-old driver, Dhirren Randhawa, failed to stop at the scene but was found nearby. Randhawa has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, aggravated driving without due care, leaving the scene of a crash after causing death and failing to truly answer questions. In a statement, Commissioner Grant Stevens and his wife Emma thanked police, first responders and other emergency services workers who attended the incident. “The Stevens family also wish to thank the wider community for their support during this difficult time in particular the family acknowledge the dedicated staff at the Flinders Medical Centre for their care and support of Charlie and his family and friends,” they said. Tributes have poured in for the teenager, as his older brother Tom called Charlie his "best mate, biggest rival and number one fan". "It breaks my heart (that) my days of being a big brother have come to an end," he said. SA Police Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams became emotional when sharing speaking about the incident, as she told reporters Charlie was an apprentice carpenter who had recently finished school and as excited about the next stage of his life. “[Commissioner Stevens] is with his family who are waiting for other family members from interstate to arrive,” the deputy commissioner said. “As you can imagine, this is a very difficult statement for me to make." “We always talk about this happening to other people but the reality is it can happen to anyone.” Image credits: SA Police

Caring

"He was out of control": Inside Bachelorette star's battle with addiction

A close friend of Charlie Newling has come forward about his mate's struggles with mental health issues and addiction after his untimely death. Newling, who appeared on the 2018 season of The Bachelorette, <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/bachelorette-star-found-dead-at-just-36" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tragically died</a> on Saturday night after his car fell from a cliff in Dover Heights, in Sydney's eastern suburbs. He was just 36 years old, and had recently welcomed his second child. As news of his death broke, a friend of Newlings came forward to share the struggles his mate had endured since his new-found fame on the reality dating show. His friend said the tradie was being swamped by addictions, leading to disturbing behaviour that brought a criminal conviction. Despite being dubbed a fan favourite for most of his time on The Bachelorette, his fan base quickly turned on him for his "controlling" behaviour. As a result, he was unable to cope with the backlash and negative publicity that came with appearing on the show, and turned to drugs as an escape. "Charlie's demon was meth a few years back. Because of it he said his wiring in his brain was screwed," a friend told <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12507507/Bachelerotte-cliff-plunge-death-Charlie-Newling-booze-meth-fame-Kristal.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail Australia</a>. "He got off meth in 2020, and he went to Queensland<a id="mol-10e8fde0-5137-11ee-af22-f392a4134fa8" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/queensland/index.html" target="_self"> </a>to escape the drug." While living in Queensland, Charlie met his on-again, off-again partner Kristal Taylor. However, his demons caught up with him when the pair returned to Sydney and began living in Sydney's east in 2021. "They moved in together but he was out of control with drinking and prescription drugs." He then checked into a rehab clinic in 2022, as friends and family witnessed Newling's declining mental health and alarming alcohol abuse in recent years. "His biggest addiction was booze," the friend said. During his periods of addiction, Charlie had a few run ins with the law, and was sentenced to 13 months in prison for threatening to torture and kill his stepfather in a series of 37 text messages he sent to his mother over a three hour period. He was also convicted of a mid-range drink driving offence in 2021. Charlie's death is not being treated as suspicious, and a report is being prepared for the coroner. Image credits: Ten

Caring

Bachelorette star found dead at just 36

The Bachelorette contestant Charlie Newling has been found dead at the age of 36. The reality TV star who appeared on Ali Oetjen's season of the dating show in 2018, died after his car fell from a cliff in Dover Heights, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, on Saturday night. A NSW police spokesperson confirmed to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/reality-tv/the-bachelorette/the-bachelorette-australia-star-charlie-newling-dead-at-36/news-story/e75be1c603f493bdeafc6ff133b60f70" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a> that police attended the scene after onlookers alerted the authorities to the location of the crashed car. His death is not being treated as suspicious, and a report is being prepared for the coroner. Newling, who had been working as a builder since his time on The Bachelorette, had welcomed a baby daughter just two months ago with his partner Kristal Taylor. The couple had been together since January 2021 and were living in Bronte. Newling also has a 13-year-old son from a previous relationship. During Ali Oetjen’s season of The Bachelorette, Newling’s charm quickly placed him as a frontrunner and was nicknamed 'Mr Perfect' by viewers. However, he was let go after refusing to introduce Oetjen to his family during hometown visits until they were “exclusive”. After his time on the reality dating TV show, Newling had a run in with the law, and was sentenced to 13 months in prison for threatening to torture and kill his stepfather in a series of 37 text messages he sent to his mother over a three hour period. He was also convicted of a mid-range drink driving offence in 2021. Image credits: Ten

News

Mother of Charlie Teo's "miracle girl" shares more tragic news

In the face of immense tragedy and loss, Monica Smirk, the mother of 14-year-old Amelia "Milli" Lucas, has opened up about more devastating news that has befallen her family. Amelia, fondly known as Milli, passed away a month after celebrating her 14th birthday on January 4, 2021, following a courageous battle against a rare and terminal genetic cancer. Diagnosed with a Grade VI Glioblastoma at the tender age of nine, Milli was given a mere 12 weeks to live. However, with the help of controversial neurosurgeon <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/dr-charlie-teo-breaks-his-silence-with-post-about-his-miracle-girl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Charlie Teo</a>, she defied the odds, surviving another remarkable five years after undergoing two surgeries. Now, Monica, her resilient mother, has revealed that she is facing her own battle with terminal cancer. Inoperable tumours on her back have cast a shadow of uncertainty, leaving her and her family grappling with fear and hope. The Smirk family has encountered the devastating impact of Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a rare gene disposition that has tragically claimed the lives of Monica's mother, brother, daughter, niece, and nephew. This syndrome, affecting fewer than 1,000 individuals worldwide, greatly increases the risk of various cancers throughout one's life. Recalling the emotional turmoil, Monica shared that she first discovered the lumps on her back while caring for Milli in 2021, but the overwhelming emotions held her back from seeking an immediate biopsy. As her health situation progressed, treatment was halted after fluid was found in her lungs. Nevertheless, she holds on to the possibility of further treatment options pending additional scans later this year. In another heart-wrenching update, Monica also revealed that her 19-year-old daughter Tess is awaiting the results of a concerning annual scan. Tess, who also battles Li-Fraumeni syndrome, faced her own hardships when diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2016, resulting in legal blindness. Despite the challenges, she courageously pursues her dream of becoming a professional dancer. As the Smirk family grapples with these overwhelming health challenges, their community has come together, rallying behind them with love and support. The Millstar Foundation, an initiative started by the family to honour their beloved "angel" Milli, aims to provide alternative therapies for patients in Western Australia. Their efforts have been met with an outpouring of generosity, as they have collected more than $13,000 worth of prizes for a raffle, supporting Monica in her fight for life. Milli's journey with Dr Teo, who she affectionately referred to as her "miracle worker," brought both hope and controversy. Though he successfully removed 98 percent of a brain tumour considered inoperable and incurable by other surgeons in 2019, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/dr-charlie-teo-speaks-out-after-guilty-finding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent incidents have led to reprimands</a> by the NSW Medical Board. While the circumstances are undoubtedly heartbreaking, Monica expressed her gratitude for the extra years Dr Teo provided Milli, acknowledging the precious time and memories they had together. Amidst the pain, Monica also spoke out about her concern for other patients who may no longer have access to potentially lifesaving surgeries due to restrictions imposed on Dr Teo. She hopes that future research and medical advancements will continue to shine a light of hope for those facing similar battles. In the face of unimaginable adversity, the Smirk family finds solace in the unwavering support and love of their community. For those who wish to contribute to the raffle and extend a helping hand to the Smirk family, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2378778672391405/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Millstar Foundation Incorporated Facebook group</a> provides an opportunity to make a difference and be a source of hope in their challenging journey. Images: Facebook

Caring

Charlie Teo's great walk of support

Neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo has now accepted work in China following the imposed conditions on his practicing certificate after complaints from the families of two patients. Despite the restrictions, many patients still in need of his surgical skills are expressing disbelief over the situation. In a message posted to social media, Dr Teo has urged his supporters to join him in solidarity for a walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge – and dozens have already committed to the walk, which will take place in September. “Many have asked what you can do to show your support," wrote the embattled surgeon. "Well, I would be honoured if you would join me in solidarity on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.” Patients are rallying their friends and family to walk with Dr Teo on September 17, in a message that emphasised that Dr Teo remains determined and will be present for the event after flying in from Spain. The decision to work in China and other countries came after the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) found Dr Teo guilty of "unsatisfactory professional conduct", a verdict he vehemently denies. Dr Teo addressed those affected by brain cancer, acknowledging the severity of the disease and emphasising the importance of the Charlie Teo Foundation in offering hope and support to those affected. Dr Teo affirmed that while he would be working in various countries, he still considers Australia his home. He expressed sadness over his recent experiences within the Australian medical system but remains motivated by the work he continues to do worldwide. The announcement of Dr Teo's decision to focus on China garnered hundreds of supportive comments from social media users, along with comments left on news articles. Dr. Teo confirmed that he would soon be performing complicated brain stem surgeries in China, acknowledging that his future in Australia is likely over. As he told the <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/charlie-teo-ive-been-crucified-i-have-no-choice-but-to-try-china/news-story/61bb1af2516de2705d55143c53dece47" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Saturday Telegraph</a>: “I am not guilty of what I am accused of. I reject what they say I have done. They just don’t believe me, so why would I show remorse for something that I deny?” “I could appeal, I think I would win. They wouldn’t be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the things they have accused me of because they are not true. But I’m not sure I have the strength to run an appeal. Furthermore, I don’t have the money to do so,” he said. “And then the whole emotional turmoil.” Dr Teo instead will focus on saving lives in countries that will allow him to. “I have just been granted privileges in China, in three different hospital,” he said. “The fact that I have been crucified over here didn’t appear to affect their decision, so I am going over there to check the facilities, make sure they are good. They just bought the latest MRI for me.” Dr Teo said he was committing to a future in China “because they have committed to me” and would continue to do the occasional cases in Europe and parts of Southeast Asia that required his expertise. He expressed disappointment but not surprise at the conditions placed on his practicing certificate following an investigation into two brain surgeries with adverse outcomes. Dr Teo categorically denied any failure to obtain proper consent or lacking empathy for his patients. He expressed his reluctance to appeal the decision due to the emotional turmoil and financial constraints associated with it. Instead, he will focus on saving lives in countries that permit his expertise. Having recently been granted privileges in three hospitals in China, Dr Teo expressed his commitment to this new chapter in his career. He mentioned that the accusations against him would not hold up if challenged but admitted uncertainty regarding his ability to endure an appeal process. Dr Teo's primary concern lies in ensuring quality facilities and patient care in China. While he plans to continue performing occasional cases in Europe and Southeast Asia, he lamented the fact that he can no longer assist patients in his home country. Dr. Teo criticised the recent findings by the HCCC, stating that they send a negative message to doctors who offer contrary second opinions. He expressed concern that neurosurgeons across Australia may become reluctant to undertake risky surgeries, fearing media scrutiny and judgment from colleagues who lack the necessary expertise to treat complex tumour cases. Dr Teo also revealed that he continues to receive regular calls from individuals suffering from rare brain tumours seeking his help, but he is forced to turn them away. Image: Wikimedia

Caring

Dr Charlie Teo speaks out after guilty finding

Renowned neurosurgeon, Dr Charlie Teo, is said to be contemplating an appeal after a medical standards committee found him guilty of "unsatisfactory professional conduct". Dr. Teo has expressed concerns that this decision could potentially jeopardise the lives of numerous Australians. The Medical Professional Standards Committee recently concluded its inquiry into two serious complaints regarding Dr. Teo's conduct at Sydney's Prince of Wales Private Hospital between 2018 and 2019. The committee's ruling stated that Dr. Teo demonstrated a lack of "insight, empathy, and judgment." As a result, restrictions have been placed on his registration, preventing him from performing brain surgeries without a written statement from an approved neurosurgeon. Dr. Teo strongly denies the allegations of unprofessional conduct and is considering appealing the committee's decision, as reported by Seven News. While acknowledging the guilty verdict, he stated in an interview with Seven's Spotlight, "In terms of the complaints, if they found me guilty then I have to take that on the chin." He also expressed his satisfaction that the committee refrained from imposing further conditions. However, he is concerned about the possibility of facing difficulties finding a hospital in Australia that would allow him to continue performing surgeries. During the Spotlight interview, presenter Michael Usher emphasised that Dr. Teo genuinely cares for his patients, who might now have to travel overseas to seek his services. Usher quoted Dr. Teo, saying, "In his words - it sounds very strong but he's standing by them - he believes that thousands of Australians will die because of this decision against him." The disciplinary hearing earlier this year revolved around two female patients who experienced severe brain injuries after undergoing surgeries performed by Dr. Teo in 2018 and 2019. In its ruling, the committee found that Dr. Teo had proceeded with surgeries where the risks outweighed the potential benefits, failing to obtain informed consent from both patients. Furthermore, he charged an inappropriate fee of $35,000 to one of the women and used inappropriate language while speaking to her daughter. The committee expressed concerns about Dr. Teo's lack of reflection in his judgment and his failure to provide statistical data or peer support to justify his decisions. Although Dr. Teo expressed sorrow and took responsibility for the unfavourable outcomes of the surgeries, he did not demonstrate remorse for offering surgery to the patients. This lack of insight troubled the committee. Consequently, the committee reprimanded Dr. Teo and imposed restrictions on his practicing certificate. To perform recurrent malignant intracranial tumour and brain stem tumour surgical procedures, he must now obtain a written statement from a Medical Council-approved neurosurgeon. Dr. Teo retains the option to appeal the committee's decision to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Image: Instagram

Caring

What happens when doctors don’t act as they should? And what’s the ruling against neurosurgeon Charlie Teo?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christopher-rudge-108366">Christopher Rudge</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> After several years of controversy, and both praise and blame for his willingness to perform high-risk surgeries, neurosurgeon Charlie Teo has been subject to <a href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/nsw/NSWMPSC//2023/2.html">practice restrictions</a> by a special committee of the Medical Council of New South Wales. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Charlie Teo was fighting two complaints of unprofessional conduct from the families of two different women, who say they were not properly warned about the risk of death before consenting to surgery. <a href="https://t.co/gvhiQdWnRF">https://t.co/gvhiQdWnRF</a> — ABC News (@abcnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/abcnews/status/1678952850238349312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2023</a></blockquote> So how does the process of restricting doctors’ medical practice work? And what did this mean for Teo? <h2>How are health practitioners regulated in Australia?</h2> Health practitioner regulators in Australia aren’t generally empowered to make punitive decisions about health professionals’ conduct. Instead, Australia’s health practitioner regulations (the so-called “national law”) require decision-makers to exercise their powers to protect patients. They operate in what is often called a “<a href="https://www.mcnsw.org.au/sites/default/files/case_note_-_legal_case_note_-_medical_council_v_lee_-_concerning_stay_applications.pdf">protective jurisdiction</a>”. And though the regulator may sometimes impose fines, it is rare. That’s because it may do so only <a href="https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2009-86a#sec.146C">when</a> it is “satisfied there is no other order, or combination of orders, that is appropriate in the public interest”. In all state <a href="https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2009-86a#sec.3A">versions</a> of the national law, regulators may <a href="https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2009-hprnlq#sec.3A">restrict doctors’ medical practices</a> only if it’s “necessary to ensure health services are provided safely and of an appropriate quality”. But the NSW national law includes additional wording. In all its decisions, the regulator <a href="https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-2009-86a#sec.3A">must regard</a> the “health and safety of the public” as the “paramount consideration.” This can have unusual effects. As the <a href="https://www.ama.com.au/sites/default/files/2022-03/Ahpra---Regulatory-guide---a-full-guide.PDF">Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA)</a> acknowledges, requirements to protect the public may sometimes result in “a determination that is harsher on the practitioner than if punishment were the sole purpose”. <h2>What happened in the Teo case?</h2> In late 2022, proceedings commenced against Teo via two complaints by the New South Wales <a href="https://www.hccc.nsw.gov.au/">Health Care Complaints Commission</a> (HCCC). The complaints concerned two brain surgeries on two patients. Both involved “radical resections” (“en bloc” removals) of these patients’ brain tumours. Tragically, neither patient regained consciousness after the operations and both patients died – one just ten days after. In legal terms, the complaints were based on a provision of the national law that defines certain categories of wrongdoing as <a href="https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-2009-86a#sec.139B">unsatisfactory professional conduct</a>. The HCCC alleged Teo had engaged in two categories of this wrongdoing: conduct below the standard reasonably expected of a doctor of his training and experience, and unethical conduct. The HCCC alleged Teo’s decisions to operate were inappropriate and substandard because the risks of “neurological morbidity” (so-called brain death) outweighed the (potential) benefits of the interventions. There was no allegation that Teo’s surgical skills were substandard. The surgeries were also unethical, it was alleged, as informed consent had not been obtained from the patients and one patient was required to pay an expensive upfront fee in circumstances of clear vulnerability. <h2>What were the findings and consequences for Teo?</h2> The HCCC Professional Standards Committee, made up of an experienced judge, two expert neurosurgeons and a lay member, applied the civil standard of proof – the balance of probabilities – to the evidence. Though the committee is not legally bound to <a href="https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2009-86a#sch.5D-sec.2">apply the rules of evidence</a> applied in criminal courts, it decided, broadly for procedural fairness reasons, to receive and consider all of Teo’s unchallenged evidence. In a decision of more than 100 pages, the committee found Teo guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct. It determined to “reprimand” Teo (this means a <a href="https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/sitecore/content/Home/Registration/Monitoring-and-compliance/Removal-of-reprimands.aspx">record of “reprimand” is</a> noted on the public copy of his practitioner licence) and to impose four conditions on his practice. Three conditions involve increased oversight of his practice records. But a more restrictive condition will require Teo to obtain written support from a neurosurgeon approved by the Medical Council of New South Wales for any neurosurgery involving “recurring malignant tumours in the brain or brain stem”. While this order was hotly contested in the proceedings, the committee determined that, for reasons including Teo’s evidenced “isolation from his peers”, the condition was “necessary to protect the health and safety of the public”. <h2>What about patient autonomy or clinical freedom?</h2> Difficult ethical questions arise in medical regulation. Here, the committee had to balance the practitioner’s right to practise medicine against the paramount consideration of patient health and safety and against the patient’s right to exercise autonomy. This last right is sometimes seen as a patient’s <a href="https://jme.bmj.com/content/40/5/293">moral right to be wrong</a>. On these considerations, the committee relied on accepted evidence from ethical experts that proposed that, as a matter of ethics, "a surgeon does not have a licence to undertake any conceivable procedure even with the agreement or acquiescence of the patient." <h2>Is medical regulation strict in Australia and NSW?</h2> Many <a href="https://www.ahpra.gov.au/News/2016-08-10-Independent-review-on-chaperoning.aspx">reviews</a> and <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3668054">academic</a> <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34907681/">studies</a> find the national law to be fair and appropriate, or not strict enough. However, some scholars and representative groups including the Australian Medical Association (AMA) find some aspects <a href="https://www.ama.com.au/ama-rounds/16-july-2021/articles/upholding-natural-justice-doctors">are</a> too <a href="https://www.ama.com.au/media/law-change-threatens-doctors-hard-earned-reputations-and-risks-their-mental-health">strict</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36763016/">unsympathetic</a> to practitioners. But a potted history of NSW medical history showcases how successive medical scandals have tended to drive strong regulatory reform. In 1984, when the tragic impacts of the shocking and unethical treatment at <a href="https://piac.asn.au/legal-help/public-interest-cases/deep-sleep-tragedy/">Chelmsford psychiatric hospital</a> were <a href="http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/ALRCRefJl/1988/77.pdf">coming to light</a>, NSW was the first jurisdiction globally to establish a complaints body for health consumers. Known as the Complaints Unit, this body is now the HCCC. Another milestone occurred in the early 2000s following several scandals, including the so-called “Butcher of Bega” episode. An <a href="https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/ladocs/inquiries/2112/Final%20Report%20on%20Graeme%20Reeves.pdf">inquiry</a> into these events prompted the NSW government to introduce laws permitting medical practitioners to be immediately suspended if the regulator considered it was in the “public interest”. This was the first power of its kind in Australia and was only adopted into the broader national law of other states in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1071/AH19293">2018</a>. <h2>What next for Teo?</h2> Teo may appeal the orders of the committee to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal or seek a review of the conditions. But as the conditions are not subject to an end date, it appears they will otherwise continue indefinitely.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/209612/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christopher-rudge-108366">Christopher Rudge</a>, Law lecturer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Instagram This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-happens-when-doctors-dont-act-as-they-should-and-whats-the-ruling-against-neurosurgeon-charlie-teo-209612">original article</a>.

Legal

Charlie Teo’s fate after guilty finding

The recent guilty finding of "unsatisfactory professional conduct" against renowned neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo by the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission has raised questions about the potential ramifications for his career. Known for his expertise in treating complex brain tumours, Dr Teo has been the subject of controversy and scrutiny in recent years. Amid allegations and concerns over his high fees and unconventional treatment methods, a disciplinary inquiry was launched to examine his professional conduct. Following that inquiry, Dr Teo was <a href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/nsw/NSWMPSC/2023/2.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found guilty of "unsatisfactory professional conduct"</a>. This finding suggests that his actions or omissions have fallen short of the expected standards of professional behaviour within the medical field. While the finding is significant, it is crucial to understand its specific implications. Dr Teo's guilty finding will almost certainly negatively impact his professional reputation, as it raises questions about his adherence to ethical guidelines and best practices. This development could affect his relationships with patients, colleagues, and medical institutions. Of course, the guilty finding may also have legal ramifications, potentially resulting in disciplinary actions such as fines, suspension, or even revocation of his medical license. The finding could also erode the trust and confidence that patients have in Dr Teo's abilities. Other medical professionals and institutions may also hesitate to collaborate with Dr Teo in the future due to concerns about his professional conduct. However, it's important to note that a guilty finding does not necessarily invalidate all of Dr Teo's contributions and achievements as a neurosurgeon. His expertise and experience in treating complex brain tumours have undoubtedly helped numerous patients in desperate situations. However, the finding does highlight areas where improvements in professional conduct may be necessary if Dr Teo is to rebuild his professional trust. While this guilty finding is undoubtedly a significant setback, Teo's future prospects are not entirely predetermined. It will depend on how he responds, whether he takes steps to address the concerns raised, and his ability to rebuild trust with patients, colleagues and the broader medical community. The guilty finding of unsatisfactory professional conduct against Dr Teo carries significant implications for his career. It has the potential to affect his professional reputation, legal standing, patient confidence, and collaborative opportunities. However, Dr Teo had already alleged to the media several times that the inquiry was instigated solely because his "enemies" had manipulated and coerced two grieving widowers into lodging complaints against him. Considering Dr Teo's previous statements about the lack of support from Australian surgeons, leading him to practically abandon surgery in his home country, it remains to be seen in real terms how this recent decision will affect his career, if it does at all. With appropriate actions and a commitment to addressing these concerns, Dr Teo may be able to navigate this challenging period and work towards rebuilding trust and maintaining his contributions in the field of neurosurgery. Image: Instagram

Body

“I may as well give you the inside story”: Dr Charlie Teo unleashes on tribunal

Dr Charlie Teo has revealed his true thoughts on a five-day disciplinary hearing by the Health Care Complaints Commission. The commission launched their inquiry into two cases where Teo performed brain surgery on two patients who ultimately passed away, in the wake of accusations of negligence. And while Teo denied any negligence on his part, he did admit that he was responsible, telling the hearing that he believed he had been “too aggressive”. It was during a speech to guests at his annual Rebel Ball - the “Charlie Teo Foundation’s premier event supporting the visionaries and revolutionaries tackling brain cancer head-on” - that he unleashed, slamming the Health Care Complaints Commission and the hearing. At the Crown Sydney, Teo took to the stage to a roar of applause from his supporters, and began by telling them “you here tonight have stuck with me and I can't thank you enough for your loyalty. “Everyone's been asking me about the tribunal. I may as well give you the inside story. “The tribunal was absolute f***ing bulls**t.” It isn’t the first time that Teo had spoken out against the strikes against himself and his career, with the neurosurgeon having <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/the-agenda-is-to-destroy-charlie-teo-final-hit-ahead-of-hearing">previously confessed to Mark Bouris</a> that “it’s got nothing to do with fairness, what’s right or wrong. It’s all got to do with people’s agendas. And the agenda is to destroy Charlie Teo.” And outside of his March hearing, Teo insisted that restrictions from prior hearings had potentially cost lives, with the neurosurgeon noting that he hadn’t been able to save lives that he knew he could have. The end goal of Teo’s Rebel Ball was just that: helping people, and ultimately saving lives. In a post to the Charlie Teo Foundation’s Facebook page, it was declared that the event had “transformed the future”, having raised over $1 million “for game-changing brain cancer research”. Among the guests and contributors were the likes of former Australian cricketers Steve Waugh and Gavin Robertson, former Olympic volleyballer Kerri Potthurst, “the last man to represent NSW at both cricket and rugby league” Graeme Hughes, and Labor’s Graham Richardson. Brain tumour survivor Beatrice McBride was also in attendance, and even performed with her father, Slide McBride, with a song she’d written for Teo. The musical entertainment continued from there, with Mondo Rock’s Paul Christie joining The Hidley Street Country Club Band on stage. Supporters were quick to flock to Teo’s side after the event, sharing their congratulations for a successful fundraising effort, and their delight at seeing so many prepared to stand by him. “Amazing result,” one wrote, “well done to everyone giving Charlie the support.” “It was a great night had by all. Thanks to all the big supporters for their massive contributions. Just proves Charlie can still pull a crowd of true believers. There was no room for the haters,” another declared. Meanwhile, another summed it up - and echoed the majority - when they shared that they were “so happy folk supported Charlie.” Images: Facebook

News

Chilling new theory into death of Aussie real estate agent in Bali

The family of Charlie Bradley have shared an emotional plea for answers, asking anyone with information on Charlie's final hours to come forward. The 28-year-old real estate agent <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/aussie-real-estate-agent-found-dead-in-bali-street" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tragically died</a> in Bali, after being found unresponsive outside a hospital in north Kuta, several hours after leaving a club on April 16th. Charlie's family are asking for anyone with information on his whereabouts between the hours of leaving the club and being found at the hospital to come forward, as they try to piece together what caused his untimely death. Charlie's sister Beth Bradley has told <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11994795/Charlie-Bradley-Bali-death-sinister-new-theory-emerges-hunt-continues-man-filmed-him.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail Australia</a> that she suspects her brother may have been a victim of methanol poisoning, after being assured by his friends that no drugs were taken. "Charlie doesn't drink beer - he sticks to spirits," she said. "There's a lot of methanol poisoning in Bali. It seems that a lot of the bars pump their alcohol with ethanol themselves to save them money in terms of producing it." "The body can't hack that much which can end up with you having hallucinations, not being able to walk, shaking and multiple other symptoms." Ms Bradley said she had "wracked her brain a million times over" in a search for answers for what happened to her brother and believes this was the most plausible. "Every time I've Googled people dying in Bali it seems to be a very similar situation and it seems to be happening more as of late," she said. While Beth stressed that this was just a theory, she believed methanol poisoning could explain an unusual phone call she received from a doctor who treated her brother at Siloam Hospital in Kuta. "The doctor told me that a man had brought Charlie into the hospital and that he showed him a video of Charlie standing, looking confused and shouting," she said. "He then fell to the ground and was rolling around. He stood up, fell again and banged his head on the floor - five times. By the time he received Charlie at the hospital, Charlie had passed away." The family now face an agonising wait to repatriate Charlie's body for a post mortem examination in Australia to determine his cause of death. Image credits: Facebook

News

"Proud mum": Opinions divided after mum praises teen daughter for punching bully in the face

Bianca Austin, wife of former soccer star Charlie Austin has divided the internet after posting a tweet praising her daughter, Mallayla, for punching a bully in the face. Last week, she tweeted: “After weeks of being bullied by the same girl, numerous phone calls to the school and nothing changing, today when being called names my daughter finally punched the bully in the face. "Proud mum,” she wrote. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> After weeks of being bullied by the same girl, numerous phone calls to the school and nothing changing,today when being called names my daughter finally punched the bully in the face👏🏻👏🏻 proud mum👏🏻 — Bianca Austin (@BiancaAustin90) <a href="https://twitter.com/BiancaAustin90/status/1635307000992260097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2023</a></blockquote> The tweet, which now has over 2 million views and 17,000 likes, generated varying responses from those who sympathise to those who believe that hitting back is unacceptable. “Probably deserved!” commented one user. Bianca replied: “I told the school how proud of her I was for standing up for herself when they rang up to tell me Mallayla would be sanctioned for retaliating violently. No child should be able to make school hell for another child day in day out”. “We all have our breaking points and can only be pushed so far. Does she feel better now she’s stood up for herself?” commented another user. “No, but she's hoping the girl will leave her alone now. X,” Bianca tweeted in response. Bianca then posted a follow up tweet expressing her dissatisfaction with the school’s response. “2 days in-school exclusion for my daughter, whilst the other child has gone to class because she was 'only' verbally abusive🙃 No wonder bullying is never stopped in schools,” she wrote. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 2 days in-school exclusion for my daughter, whilst the other child has gone to class because she was 'only' verbally abusive🙃 No wonder bullying is never stopped in schools... head high Mallayla🙏🏻 — Bianca Austin (@BiancaAustin90) <a href="https://twitter.com/BiancaAustin90/status/1635608089754841088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></blockquote> “I get that bullying is awful and harmful but when I said that your daughter’s actions would make things worse, you can now see where I was going,” one user wrote in response. “Bullying someone “back” by hitting is also bullying,” the user added. Bianca went straight to the point with her response and asked them what their resolution would be. “School couldn't stop it, it was wrecking her mental health and affecting her GCSE studies. What is the right course of action here?! “Also she didn't "bully" back. Bullying is repeated behaviour,” she wrote, defending her daughter’s actions. Bianca also tweeted that her daughter had no malicious intent and only did it because she wanted to “be left alone to quietly enjoy school”. Image: Twitter

Family & Pets

"If you want to kick him, come kick me too”: Stars turn out to defend Charlie Teo

Famous friends of Dr Charlie Teo have defended his character and shown their support as the neurosurgeon faces a five-day disciplinary hearing by the Health Care Complaints Commission. Steve Waugh and Anthony Mundine were among Dr Teo’s high profile mates who spoke to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/anthony-mundine-steve-waugh-supporting-controversial-surgeon-dr-charlie-teo/news-story/bb8567814607fe4fcdbd8f5dbaaa4a73" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a> outside the Health Professional Councils Authority building on Monday morning. Mundine said he has known Dr Teo, who has divided critics for his work on brain tumours deemed inoperable by other neurosurgeons, “for some time”. “I just know the character the man is… We’ve built a good relationship over the years, and got closer and closer,” he said. “He’s been blessed with unbelievable skills in the neurosurgeon game and is one of the best in the world”. Mundine was then quizzed on his thoughts about the criticism Dr Teo has faced in recent months, saying, “There will be people that hate it… it’s a 50/50 game, you’re gonna win some, you lose some.” “But I’m here. If you want to kick him, come kick me too”. Also showing his support for the controversial doctor was cricketing legend Steve Waugh, who claims Dr Teo saved his wife Lynette’s life when he removed a large blood clot from her brain. “I’ve referred him to a number of friends as well,” Waugh said. “He’s done an amazing job – over 11,000 operations. He takes some of the tough cases no one else wants to”. He said it was “hard for me to know why people don’t like him” but thought it could be a “little bit of tall poppy syndrome”. “I guess it makes him a target with some people,” Waugh said. “I just hope he gets a fair go.” The support from famous friends comes after Teo <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/the-agenda-is-to-destroy-charlie-teo-final-hit-ahead-of-hearing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lashed out</a> against the recent allegations made against him of unprofessional conduct, saying that such claims are driven by professional jealousy, and are largely designed to take him down and to prevent the rise of any good, young “aggressive” neurosurgeons. Appearing on a podcast with businessman and former TV host Mark Bouris, Teo said,“It’s got nothing to do with fairness, what’s right or wrong. It’s all got to do with people’s agendas. And the agenda is to destroy Charlie Teo.” “I know that I’ve got this skill … I take out tumours that no one else can take out. And all the surgeons around the world that watch me are just absolutely amazed by it. So when I operate in other countries, I get four or five or 10 or 20 neurosurgeons watching it, and they just are blown away by it.” Image credits: Instagram <div class="media image portrait side-by-side" style="caret-color: #000000; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; width: 338.492645px; float: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 14.099264px; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div>

Legal

“The agenda is to destroy Charlie Teo”: Final hit ahead of hearing

Appearing on a podcast with businessman and former TV host Mark Bouris, famed neurosurgeon Charlie Teo has lashed out against the recent allegations made against him of unprofessional conduct, saying that such claims are driven by professional jealousy, and are largely designed to take him down and to prevent the rise of any good, young “aggressive” neurosurgeons. Teo is set to face an additional disciplinary hearing by the Health Care Complaints Commission, and did not hold back in his assessment of the attacks on him and his career to date. “It’s got nothing to do with fairness, what’s right or wrong,” he said to podcast host Bouris. “It’s all got to do with people’s agendas. And the agenda is to destroy Charlie Teo.” “I know that I’ve got this skill … I take out tumours that no one else can take out. And all the surgeons around the world that watch me are just absolutely amazed by it. So when I operate in other countries, I get four or five or 10 or 20 neurosurgeons watching it, and they just are blown away by it.” Teo also told Bouris that the worst thing about being “subjected to all this vexatious vilification by colleagues” is that it sends a message to “all those good, young, aggressive neurosurgeons” that “if you try and do what Charlie does, this is what’s going to happen to you.” He alleged that one of the doctors complaining about him is “in competition with me.” The surgeon also claimed that he was “being judged by your enemies … it’s totally stacked”. Teo also took aim at sections of the press for publishing articles and airing shows that called his practice and motives into question. Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes program in particular <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/opinions-divided-over-fresh-dr-charlie-teo-claims" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interviewed several of Dr Teo’s past patients</a>, one of whom spoke about the "false hope" given to his family when dealing with the surgeon. The program claimed that Teo had charged families huge sums of money for ultimately futile operations. While the HCCC was investigating those initial complaints, Teo’s brain stem surgeries were deemed a possible public health and safety risk. After an urgent hearing of the NSW Medical Council in August 2021, conditions were placed on Teo’s ability to practice. Teo also told Bouris on his podcast that medical authorities “can always hide behind this feigned altruism or public safety concept” and that the real reason he could no longer operate in Australia was that his colleagues were resentful of his ability to “take out tumours that other people have called inoperable”. Teo complained that just because he has had some bad surgical outcomes, these shouldn’t negate thousands of other successful surgeries. Teo also rejected the claims of overcharging patients, saying a mentor had once advised him to charge what you think you deserve. “I haven’t really wanted this to be known, but I’ll tell you now…more than half my patients I don’t charge,” he told Bouris. Teo also said that as he nears the end of his professional medical career he wanted people to know that he “didn’t charge police officers, fellow doctors, nurses, friends of friends, pensioners who couldn’t afford it.” “There are some countries in the world that want me,” continued Teo on the podcast. “But as soon as [they] find out that I'm operating in a particular country, they go and try and destroy my reputation there as well. “I'm not going to say anything at this stage, but a few countries have been trying to seduce me to operate there. “So I'm hopefully going to be able to operate in some other countries.” Image: Instagram

News

Karl Stefanovic forced to apologise for defending Dr Charlie Teo

Karl Stefanovic has apologised to his colleagues at Nine after their onslaught on Dr Charlie Teo despite him claiming he is a dear friend of his. Dr Teo has been the subject of media attacks from the Nine Network over his practices and ethics as a neurosurgeon. The Today Show co-host came out swinging and refuted the attacks at Dr Teo who he considers one of his close friends. “I adore him and I love him and I'm just sorry this whole thing's gone on for so long and continues to go on,” Karl told Daily Mail Australia last week. “The pile-on with Charlie is very difficult to watch given how much I know he is committed to the profession and how much great work he does and how many lives he's saved. “I would hate to see this guy and all of his talent exterminated from a profession that he's so gifted at. It would be a travesty.” After his comments, it was confirmed by ABC's Media Watch that Karl wrote an apology to his colleagues at Nine for “undermining” their work. Media Watch host Paul Barry said there was “significant upset” in the Sydney Morning Herald workplace. Karl is an ambassador for the Charlie Teo Foundation and has previously spoken out about how he helped save several of his friend’s lives. “I would ring him because I had friends or family members that needed urgent medical care and within minutes he would find me doctors for them,” Karl previously said. “And I'm talking dozens of friends. No matter where he was around the world Charlie Teo would pick up the phone. “Sometimes he would be just out of surgery and say ‘I'll call you back in an hour and half because I'm in the US’ or Papua New Guinea or wherever.” He said that Dr Teo would call back and that within “two hours” his friends would have appointments “with the best in the world”. “He has legitimately saved my friends' lives and it's not even him performing the surgery. “It's him going above and beyond to find doctors around the world to help people he doesn't even know because they're friends of mine and that's how deeply he cares. “The guy doesn't just talk the talk, he absolutely walks the walk as a friend.” Images: Nine/Instagram

News

"Shame on you!”: Dr Teo’s rumoured fiancée comes to his defence

Dr Charlie Teo’s alleged fiancée and former patient has spoken out publicly in defence of the disgraced surgeon and slammed recent media reports. Traci Griffiths hit out at reports initiated through a joint investigation by 60 Minutes and Nine newspapers, resulting in claims emerging from disgruntled patients and their families that Dr Teo offered them false hope in performing procedures. One patient claimed Dr Teo operated on the wrong side of her brain, but the 64-year-old surgeon has since rejected and corrected this claim. In the aftermath of these claims, Griffiths took to social media to defend Dr Teo, sharing a quote from Mister Rogers: “Honesty is often very hard. The truth is often painful. But the freedom it can bring is worth the trying.” <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkIaIK6p6IC/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkIaIK6p6IC/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Traci Griffiths (@veganforearth)</a> </div> </blockquote> The model, animal activist, and pet apparel designer also shared a screenshot of a 60 Minutes exclusive article with Dr Teo, adding to the caption: “I’m so proud of this extraordinary human! He shouldn’t have to spend his time and energy constantly refuting all this media BS! #ShameonyouAustralia!” Ms Griffiths also shared a link to the full 60 Minutes interview, in which Dr Teo told host Tracy Grimshaw that a current project could see him operate again in Australia while avoiding the hospital system and “politics of medicine”. “I do have a project going on at the moment … at Blacktown, where they may be building an institute in my name that will be a centre of excellence for neurosurgery and neurosciences,” he said. “If there’s a place in Australia that says, ‘We want you with open arms, we love what you’re doing, we’re going to support you’, I’ll take it in a heartbeat.” This comes after the NSW Medical Council ruled that Dr Teo couldn’t perform procedures without written approval from an independent neurosurgeon in 2021, and amid recent reports he has been performing surgeries in Spain. Ms Griffith’s comments come days after she was spotted leaving a Sydney Gala event hand-in-hand with Dr Teo and flashed a diamond ring. While Dr Teo has denied rumours that the pair are engaged, Ms Griffiths has shared photos of the pair with hashtags including “#ilovemyfiance” and “#myfiance”. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cedf4vsJEmI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cedf4vsJEmI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Traci Griffiths (@veganforearth)</a> </div> </blockquote> Ms Griffiths received treatment from Dr Teo in 2011 after she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. While Dr Teo has admitted he made mistakes during his surgeries during a recent interview with A Current Affair, an investigation by <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/some-people-pay-the-price-risk-and-reward-in-charlie-teo-s-world-20221027-p5btfi.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sydney Morning Herald</a> reported that several families were unaware that the surgeon made mistakes while operating on their family members. Prasanta Barman, an engineer from India whose four-year-old son Mikolaj was operated on by Dr Teo, told the outlet that he “could not sleep the whole night” after hearing the admission that Dr Teo’s surgery had injured his son. Following the operation, Mikolaj didn’t walk again or speak and died months later. “This is totally new to me. He never told us that something wrong happened during surgery and that led to his critical condition. I came to know this only now and that also from the TV,” Mr Barman said. In October 2018, Mr Barman paid $80,000 for Dr Teo to perform a 10-hour operation on Mikolaj at a Singapore hospital. The surgeon then spent ten minutes telling Mikolaj’s parents he had removed 85 percent of the tumour and that it appeared benign. But, Mr Barman said that after the operation Mikolaj was “in the bed in a vegetative state, he cannot play, he can just blink his eyes, and say yes or no to us”. Image: @veganforearth (Instagram)

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“Absolute lie": Furious Charlie Teo hits back at 60 Minutes piece

Neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo has slammed 60 Minutes for claims that he charged hefty prices for futile operations that left patients severely injured and families with false hope. In a one-on-one interview with A Current Affair’s Tracy Grimshaw, Dr Teo responded to a “comprehensive” story aired by the program last weekend, in which multiple families shared their upset about the large financial burdens placed on them and feeling that they had been given false hope by the acclaimed surgeon. Dr Teo dubbed the report as “abhorrent and disgusting”, and while he admitted he had made mistakes in his career, he said the idea that he was simply in it for the money was false. “For some outsiders not sitting in the room with you having a discussion with the patient, it‘s so wrong for them to judge you on what’s going on in the room,” he said. “If someone is trying to portray me as some money-hungry bastard that was operating and hurting children based on money, that’s what I want to correct. It’s not that case.” The surgeon, who is currently under investigation by the Health Care Complaints Commission, told 2GB host Ben Fordham on Wednesday that he does have regrets about mistakes he’s made. “But I deny the accusation that it means nothing to me,” Dr Teo said. “I treat all my patients like a member of my own family.” When asked if he was sorry about the mistakes he’s made, Dr Teo said he was and that “you would have to be a sociopath” not to be sorry. “You’d have to be a sociopath not to be sorry because every mistake means some sort of bad outcome for the patient which means quality of life issues, sometimes even death, or paralysis, inability to speak,” he added. “I mean, if that didn’t affect you, you’d be like Dr Death, you’d be some sort of a psychopath.” During his 60 Minutes interview, Dr Teo responded to the case of one patient who lost their vision, explaining that he never gave 100 percent certainty that the procedure wouldn’t result in blindness. “If I had guaranteed that there was no chance of blindness, that is me saying the wrong thing, that’s misinformation,” he said. “I don’t do that, you can’t do that and not get sued, someone will sue you one day and after 11,000 cases, you don’t think if I have set out to a handful of patients I’d be sued by those patients? “In that case, I thought the chance of blindness was almost zero, but I never give a guarantee. They are claiming I said that I guarantee you won’t be blind, that is absolute lie, I did not say that I would never say that you be foolish to say that.” Dr Teo revealed that he has photos of his patients on his phone to remind him of the importance of his job, saying that he carried the devastation of failed operations with him every day. “There is a French vascular surgeon who wrote a book on the philosophy of surgery, and I don’t think you can put in any better words when he said ‘every surgeon carries with himself a small cemetery’,” he said. “My cemetery is not small, it’s a significant sized cemetery. (I have) pictures of my patients on my phone to remind me every day I’ve got to do it better.” While some of his former patients have been critical of the neurosurgeon, others have leapt to his defence, including 24-year-old Monica Lopresti. After she began to lose her memory in early 2021 but her blood tests returned normal results, it wasn’t until she received the results of an MRI in 2022 that it was discovered that she had a benign cystic tumour in the middle of her brain. Seven neurosurgeons turned her away, but Dr Teo agreed to perform surgery on her. Ms Lopresti said Dr Teo explained the risks, which included death, paralysis and being left in a vegetative state, and that she agreed to proceed with the knowledge of the risks. She added that “it just isn’t true” that the surgeon gave people false hope. “I wasn’t living a life. I was always calling in sick and I wasn’t having the quality of life that I wanted,” she told news.com.au. Since August 2021, Dr Teo has been banned from performing operations in Australia but still receives daily requests for help, telling the podcast The Soda Room that he estimates that nine patients a week are left without lifesaving care as a result. “So the sadness of the situation is that my entire practice was mostly taking out tumours that other people called inoperable, so that was 90 per cent of my practice,” he said. “That’s 10 tumours a week. So that means, quite conceivably, that there are nine patients a week, who are missing out on either extension of life or cure from a condition that I know that I can help. Now that’s sad.” Images: A Current Affair

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Opinions divided over fresh Dr Charlie Teo claims

Neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo has once again been on the receiving end of harsh claims from past patients in a brutal expose by 60 Minutes. The renowned brain surgeon has made headlines multiple times in the past for his achievements – such as when he flew from Perth to Sydney to perform a lifesaving operation on then 14-year-old Amelia “Milli” Lucas after she raised $170,000. However, Dr Teo has continued to face backlash, with some families who’ve dealt with the surgeon criticising him for the high price of his services. Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes program interviewed several of Dr Teo’s past patients, one of whom spoke about the "false hope" given to his family when dealing with the surgeon. Michelle Smith was only 19 when Dr Teo operated on her to remove a brain tumour that was causing her severe epileptic episodes. Ms Smith and her mother told the program that Dr Teo claimed that the removal of the tumour would be “easy” and after the operation “everything is great”. The program went on to state that Dr Teo soon told Ms Smith that she was able to stop taking her epilepsy medication but as the years went on she experienced worse seizures. “The seizures got worse…I lost my employment, I’d had a few jobs here and there,” Ms Smith said. “I had a seizure behind the wheel and hit two parked cars, writing off three cars.” <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/michelle24.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Later in 2014, Ms Smith had another scan for her brain, after which other doctors claimed that Dr Teo had operated on the wrong side. “The previous operation was done on the wrong side of the brain and that’s why the normal brain tissue was removed, it was nowhere near the tumour,” Ms Smith continued on the program. “To find out that he didn’t even touch it, I just felt violated in a way. I trusted him.” Dr Teo defended himself saying that he “never, ever” operated on the wrong side of the brain and that the approach he used was well documented to reduce the risk. “Ms Smith awoke in excellent neurological condition and was seizure free at her post-op visit,” he said. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> A decade after going under the knife of Dr Charlie Teo to remove a brain tumour, Michelle Smith made a horrific discovery; the neurosurgeon had actually operated on the wrong side of her brain. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/60Mins?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#60Mins</a> <a href="https://t.co/YnBCqhCDfz">pic.twitter.com/YnBCqhCDfz</a> — 60 Minutes Australia (@60Mins) <a href="https://twitter.com/60Mins/status/1584118918276608000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2022</a></blockquote> A colleague of Dr Teo's, Dr Michael Donnellan, backed up Teo's claim, telling the <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/neurosurgeon-charlie-teo-says-claims-have-been-a-slur-on-his-character/news-story/bcd505006874929187ca31d406421a00" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Telegraph</a> that "there is a big difference between a wrong side surgery, versus a contralateral approach — or approach from the opposite side — to a tumour that is close to the midline of the brain.... This is a well recognised and reasonable approach,” he said, adding he had seen Dr Teo choose that method multiple times with good results. This, however, did not stop Ms Smith from suing Dr Teo in 2019 for professional negligence. The case was settled out of court. Another of Dr Teo’s patients examined by the 60 Minutes program was Prasanta Barman’s young son Mikolaj who was diagnosed with a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) - a difficult brain tumour to treat. The family sought the help of Dr Teo who they say informed them that there was a “very high likelihood of (a) cure”. “If all goes as planned, the surgery should be curative, as we should be able to remove the entire thing. This means that prognosis would be excellent,” Dr Teo’s office said in an email in 2018. However, two other neurosurgeons informed Mr Barman that his son’s tumour was inoperable. This led Mr Barman to once again ask Dr Teo about his stance and his response remained unchanged and that he would operate. Mr Barman paid Dr Teo the $80,000 required for the operation and 30 minutes before the operation he said that he might not be able to remove the entire tumour. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/mikolaj.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> After surgery, young Mikolaj was bedridden and unable to walk, talk or eat on his own. He died less than a year later. “There was no hope. For a DIPG, there is no hope. So why give the false hope in the first place?” Mr Barman asked. Dr Teo has defended himself against these claims, explaining that there are some good and bad outcomes no matter the situation. “Once you start exploring and looking for advancements, you are going to get some bad outcomes, some terrible outcomes, which I have had,” he told <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/desperate-parents-heap-praise-on-lifesaving-neurosurgeon-charlie-teo/news-story/db2c86a0aae339a9f2a23b5dfa7cf530" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Telegraph</a>. “You are also going to have patients that do very well, that get more months or years on their lives and get to enjoy life.” Images: Facebook/60 Minutes

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"Let him do this job": Mother of Charlie Teo's "miracle girl" blasts surgery restrictions

The mother of Dr Charlie Teo's "miracle girl" has spoken out against the restrictions placed on the surgeon and how they will impact the lives of many families with sick kids. In 2019, Milli became one of Dr Teo's most well-known patients after he successfully removed 98 per cent of a brain tumour that had been dubbed inoperable and incurable by other surgeons. Although Milli tragically died in January 2021, her mother Monica said she feels “devastated” and “disappointed” over the restrictions placed on Dr Teo, saying it will greatly impact patients and their families who no longer have access to potentially lifesaving surgery. Since August 2021, Dr Teo has been barred from operating in Australia under rules imposed by the Medical Council of NSW. In order to operate, Dr Teo must have written approval from a second independent neurosurgeon with more than 20 years of specialist experience. These conditions will remain in place until September 30, when they will be subject to review. “Why? Just why? I wish they’d leave him alone and let him do this job. He helps people – that’s all he does,” Monica told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/mum-of-dr-charlie-teos-miracle-girl-amelia-milli-lucas-says-operating-restrictions-have-robbed-australians/news-story/9fb19e4d6ab9b644e30ff03817d813b1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>. “I know the neurosurgeons in Australia think he’s a cowboy and think he takes things just that little bit extra … but that should be left to the patient to choose.” Dr Teo has has had daily requests from desperate patients to operate, as Monica said it should be up the patients to have final say over their treatment, and it’s an opportunity she’s grateful that her daughter had. “A neurosurgeon could go: ‘No, I’m not going to do it because in three months time it’s going to be back in and you’re going to be dead anyway’ but if someone wants to do it and live that three months, why aren’t they given that choice? Charlie gives you that choice,” she added. “He doesn’t mince his words and he doesn’t give anyone false hope, he just gives them real hope.” She also said the rules which have limited Dr Teo’s operating ability also “robbed” the “medical industry” and future research as well. Since the neurosurgeon has been barred from operating in Australia, Dr Teo has continued teaching, lecturing and performing pro bono surgery internationally. “I feel sorry for the people in Australia who want to be a neurosurgeon and aren’t able to learn from the best in the world.” Image credits: Facebook

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Wave of support for Dr Charlie Teo

Renowned brain surgeon Dr Charlie Teo has received an outpouring of support from doctors overseas calling for his current restrictions on surgeries to be overturned. Dr Charlie Teo is not allowed to conduct any surgeries in Australia without written approval from a fellow surgeon after the Medical Council of NSW received three complaints about him. This has led to the 64-year-old coming out and saying to 2GB radio host Chris Smith that he would even perform surgeries for free in public hospitals, because he has “had enough” of the ban from “jealous colleagues”. “It's gang warfare. It's purely based on professional jealousy. Even a governing body has said that I'm a competent surgeon,” he said to Smith on air. He said that there have been multiple instances in which his receptionist would break down crying when people would beg for him to perform their surgery. “The bottom line is, it's a pretty desperate situation, it's sad, it's wrong,” Dr Teo continued. “It all started from nameless, faceless, cowardly people who went to the media, made allegations and made up stories about me to try and destroy my reputation. “If I'm as bad as surgeons say I am, if I'm offering people false hope and false promises, come out and say it... and put a face to the allegations.” His comments come as six top-performing doctors across the world wrote to the Medical Council of NSW calling for the ban to be overturned. Professor Giovanni Broggi, who worked for more than 40 years at the Neurological Institute Carlo Besta in Milan, said that Dr Teo’s willingness to perform risky operations and successfully is important to people and their families. “Given his excellent clinical results and great surgical skills in treating brain tumours, Professor Teo often accepts to operate on very complex cases,” Professor Broggi wrote. “This attitude, coupled with his ability to truly share the patient’s point of view, is what allowed him to save many patients. “Although he could not save the life of patients affected by malignant brain tumours, such as Glioblastomas, the truth is that in most of the cases he was able to significantly prolong patients’ survival and to provide a good post-operative quality of life.” Professor Paul Gardner from the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre said that Dr Teo’s emotional investment in each patient is what drives him to ensure he’s doing the best he can. “All of us who manage the most complex and dangerous cranial tumours face the constant risk and fear of devastating complications,” Professor Gardner wrote. “Indeed, the only way to avoid these in such cases is to never operate. “It is clear, however, based on the medical literature, that many of these disease have significantly better prognosis and outcome if a more radical removal can be performed. “It is exactly this tightrope that Prof Teo is willing and able to walk every day. “Any of us who attempt to do so will occasionally have devastating complications. This is the nature of our business.” “The emotional investment this requires cannot be overstated. I have seen Prof Teo invest this in every one of his patients I have seen treated and I have seen the impact on him when there is even a minor complication. “There is no question in my mind that he is offering every patient the highest level of care available in the world.” Stanford Medicines Associate Professor of Neurosurgery Robert Dodd also addressed the NSW Medical Council, calling for his colleague to be given permission to perform surgeries again. “I hope you are able to navigate through this investigation and find direction to see that Professor Teo is indeed a good and passionate physician, a master surgeon, and an Australian treasure,” he wrote. Dr Teo already had a name for himself in Australia, but it was when Amelia "Milli" Lucas, a 14-year-old from Perth who crowdfunded $170,000 to afford Dr Teo's services that he gained worldwide attention. He flew across the country to Sydney to perform Milli’s operation and successfully removed 98 percent of her life-threatening brain tumour with the experimental surgery. She was hailed Dr Teo's "miracle girl". Images: Facebook

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