This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/28/charlie-teo-accused-of-giving-opportunistically-untruthful-evidence

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Charlie Teo accused of giving ‘opportunistically untruthful’ evidence Charlie Teo accused of giving ‘opportunistically untruthful’ evidence
(5 months later)
Controversial neurosurgeon’s claim a patient’s husband was ‘hoodwinked’ into making a complaint against him showed ‘lack of empathy’, inquiry also toldControversial neurosurgeon’s claim a patient’s husband was ‘hoodwinked’ into making a complaint against him showed ‘lack of empathy’, inquiry also told
The controversial neurosurgeon Charlie Teo has been accused of giving “opportunistically untruthful” evidence to a medical disciplinary board as well as lacking empathy and insight.The controversial neurosurgeon Charlie Teo has been accused of giving “opportunistically untruthful” evidence to a medical disciplinary board as well as lacking empathy and insight.
Teo appeared before a Health Care Complaints Commission inquiry in Sydney on Tuesday to defend brain tumour surgeries he performed on two women, from which they never recovered and died soon after.Teo appeared before a Health Care Complaints Commission inquiry in Sydney on Tuesday to defend brain tumour surgeries he performed on two women, from which they never recovered and died soon after.
One of the women who was left in a vegetative state after surgery was repatriated to Western Australia, causing her family great emotional trauma and expense, the hearing was told.One of the women who was left in a vegetative state after surgery was repatriated to Western Australia, causing her family great emotional trauma and expense, the hearing was told.
The commission counsel Kate Richardson SC said during a summing up that Teo’s claims the woman’s husband had been “hoodwinked” into making a complaint against him showed a “lack of empathy and lack of ability to reflect”.The commission counsel Kate Richardson SC said during a summing up that Teo’s claims the woman’s husband had been “hoodwinked” into making a complaint against him showed a “lack of empathy and lack of ability to reflect”.
Richardson accused Teo of being “opportunistically untruthful” throughout the hearing in regards to the risks involved with the surgery and how he conveyed that to the patient, arguing he should be “rejected as a witness of credit”.Richardson accused Teo of being “opportunistically untruthful” throughout the hearing in regards to the risks involved with the surgery and how he conveyed that to the patient, arguing he should be “rejected as a witness of credit”.
The commission is seeking a professional reprimand for Teo and wants additional conditions imposed on his work as a surgeon.The commission is seeking a professional reprimand for Teo and wants additional conditions imposed on his work as a surgeon.
Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundupSign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup
Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundupSign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup
Teo has admitted his actions were responsible for the women’s poor outcomes, but firmly rejects any suggestion he was negligent.Teo has admitted his actions were responsible for the women’s poor outcomes, but firmly rejects any suggestion he was negligent.
“I think in fact I’ve been too aggressive,” Teo said of his surgery on the first woman.“I think in fact I’ve been too aggressive,” Teo said of his surgery on the first woman.
“I think that I’ve probably gone across the midline ... one to one-and-a-half millimetres … but that’s enough to damage a patient when you’re doing surgery in this area.”“I think that I’ve probably gone across the midline ... one to one-and-a-half millimetres … but that’s enough to damage a patient when you’re doing surgery in this area.”
In the case of the other woman, Teo defended his decision to operate after two other neurosurgeons deemed her tumour inoperable.In the case of the other woman, Teo defended his decision to operate after two other neurosurgeons deemed her tumour inoperable.
Teo said the woman’s pre-surgery brain scans showed a displacement of tissue, known as a midline shift, which placed her at risk of death at any moment.Teo said the woman’s pre-surgery brain scans showed a displacement of tissue, known as a midline shift, which placed her at risk of death at any moment.
“This patient could have died at anytime. Within minutes of the scan, or days or weeks of the scan,” he said.“This patient could have died at anytime. Within minutes of the scan, or days or weeks of the scan,” he said.
“I’ve made errors in the past where I haven’t appreciated the urgency of a midline shift and they’ve died.“I’ve made errors in the past where I haven’t appreciated the urgency of a midline shift and they’ve died.
“I would rather err on the side of caution now and say ‘you could die at any minute’.”“I would rather err on the side of caution now and say ‘you could die at any minute’.”
Sign up to Guardian Australia's Morning Mail Sign up to Morning Mail
Our Australian morning briefing email breaks down the key national and international stories of the day and why they matter Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters
after newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotion
Teo said in conducting a partial right frontal lobectomy on the woman it was likely he unknowingly removed a part of the brain that was crucial to her functioning.Teo said in conducting a partial right frontal lobectomy on the woman it was likely he unknowingly removed a part of the brain that was crucial to her functioning.
“I agree I took out a bad part of the right frontal lobe that caused the deficit.”“I agree I took out a bad part of the right frontal lobe that caused the deficit.”
Teo argued he did not remove an excessive amount of the patient’s right frontal lobe – an area of the brain considered responsible for higher level functions such as language and speech.Teo argued he did not remove an excessive amount of the patient’s right frontal lobe – an area of the brain considered responsible for higher level functions such as language and speech.
He said there are brain networks in the right frontal lobe he did not even know about at the time of the surgery that are not widely considered in “mainstream” neurosurgery.He said there are brain networks in the right frontal lobe he did not even know about at the time of the surgery that are not widely considered in “mainstream” neurosurgery.
“I think you could have avoided this terrible outcome with the knowledge we have today,” Teo said.“I think you could have avoided this terrible outcome with the knowledge we have today,” Teo said.
“I will not do a right frontal lobectomy now without mapping those networks. It’s not mainstream, but it should be.”“I will not do a right frontal lobectomy now without mapping those networks. It’s not mainstream, but it should be.”
After Monday’s hearing, Teo told reporters the disciplinary process had taken him out of the operating theatre.After Monday’s hearing, Teo told reporters the disciplinary process had taken him out of the operating theatre.
“I haven’t been able to save lives that I know I can save,” he said.“I haven’t been able to save lives that I know I can save,” he said.
The hearing is expected to wrap up on Wednesday before a decision is made about Teo’s fate.The hearing is expected to wrap up on Wednesday before a decision is made about Teo’s fate.