‘Bullying’: Charlie Teo speaks out
Controversial neurosurgeon Charlie Teo has spoken out after findings by the health watchdog effectively ended his surgical career in Australia.
“This is the worst example of medical bullying,” he’s told Seven’s Spotlight program on Sunday, just days after he was found guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct following complaints from the families of two patients.
He said he was distressed by the the Health Care Complaints Commission’s decision last week.
“Those conditions were going to be so prohibitive that I essentially couldn’t of neurosurgeons to destroy me, my reputation,” he told Seven.
He said the action had been fueled by several reasons, including “being Asian may not help”.
“I understand many of the attitudes calls the tumour inoperable. I say it’s operable. I take it out, everything goes well. I can understand why that surgeon look like an idiot.”
But he said he had not made false promises to patients.
“They’re saying that I gave inflated, exaggerated opinions about good outcomes.”
But he said he always said the same thing: “This is a terrible tumour. You know how bad it is.”
He said the most he said was “I will try my hardest.”
Dr Teo said he did not know of any hospital in Australia that was prepared to let him operate him now, but Australians were following him to countries including China and Spain where he could perform those surgeries.
“People are dying without my services. Don’t stop me from offering the next person hope.”
Dr Teo had earlier this year faced a lengthy hearing in Sydney before the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC).
The Professional Standards Committee on Wednesday handed down its findings over two surgeries performed by Dr Teo that had “disastrous” outcomes, placing restrictions on the star doctor’s registration in their decision.
Both patients were “vulnerable women” who faced the prospect of death from their respective brain tumours.
Dr Teo, who had faced serious complaints over his professional conduct at the Prince of Wales Private Hospital in Sydney in 2018 and 2019, was told of the findings via email.
He has had restrictions placed on him, including a requirement to obtain written permission from a Medical Council-approved neurosurgeon with at least 15 years experience as a registered specialist in neurosurgery before he performs any “malignant intracranial tumour and brain stem tumour surgical procedures”.
During the hearing, he was joined by crowds of supporters, including high-profile boxing great Anthony Mundine.
Dr Teo told the Saturday Telegraph he won’t be challenging the findings of the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC), saying he doesn’t have the fight left to take the case to the NSW Supreme Court.
But he said he “will never” accept that he failed to gain proper consent or lacks empathy for his patients.
“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?”
Dr Teo said he had be granted privileges in three different hospitals in China.
“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.”
