Dr Charlie Teo unsure whether he has a future as a neurosurgeon

Dr Charlie Teo is considering his future in medicine after what he describes as a witch-hunt and says one of his detractors, which he calls “The Mole”, is desperate to destroy his reputation.

Controversial neurosurgeon Charlie Teo is considering walking away from the operating theatre, convinced the NSW Medical Council’s decision to “slap” him with restrictions is a sign his enemies are “going in for the kill”.

Speaking exclusively to the Saturday Telegraph, Dr Teo says his detractors, including one he refers to as “The Mole”, have been feeding vitriol to the media, pursuing him for years with “baseless allegations and making slanderous comment” about his professional integrity.

He says the time has come to consider whether he still has the strength to continue the fight against a small number of colleagues jealous of his success, his skill and his public profile.

Some neurosurgeons who have publicly spoken out against Dr Teo have refused to be identified because they say criticising the hero-worshipped surgeon is akin to “killing Bambi”.

***DON’T MISS: CHARLIE TEO IN HIS OWN WORDS***

‘I’m an emotional wreck....these claims are soul destroying”

Charlie Teo is taking three months leave to consider his future in medicine. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

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Dr Teo said this week it has been The Mole’s mission “to change the image of the neurosurgeon who gives people hope, to a money-hungry, underworld-connected, sexual predator”.

“It’s a whole lot easier to kill a wolf than a cute little deer,” Dr Teo said.

He said he will use a self-imposed three-month sabbatical, which starts today, to decide whether continuing as a surgeon is worth the strain on his family, his finances and his own health.

This week the medical board imposed several conditions on Dr Teo’s practice after complaints and allegations of sexual harassment, inappropriate behaviour and overcharging of vulnerable patients.

Charlie Teo says his enemies are out to get him Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Charlie Teo says his enemies want to change the public’s perception.

Under the conditions, Dr Teo must get written approval from another neurosurgeon, approved by the Medical Council, before conducting or recommending surgery for recurrent malignant intracranial tumours and brain stem tumours.

If that surgeon, “who might be 15 years junior” to Dr Teo and “who might not have the same experience” deems the proposed surgery inappropriate, Dr Teo is unable to perform or even recommend the operation to be done.

The Medical Council of NSW said Dr Teo would also be required to show that he had explained the risks to his patient and obtained informed financial consent.

The restrictions were imposed after an urgent meeting of the Medical Council of NSW’s immediate action panel last week. The panel usually meets when a practitioner poses an imminent risk to public safety.

Charlie Teo with his partner Traci Griffiths

Dr Teo believes the “urgent hearing” over complaints that surfaced two years ago was sparked by “another attempt” by disgruntled peers wanting to bring him down.

“I’ve always thought that if I’m good to my patients and do the right thing by them, no matter what vexatious complaint is made to the governing bodies, it would afford me some protection from my enemies,” he said.

“Well-intentioned colleagues have warned me over the years to be less outspoken and to stop giving contrary second opinions because if the day ever came that I would be facing a medical council tribunal, there would not be a single surgeon to support me. I naively ignored those warnings.” Dr Teo said.

“Instead, I’ve always done what I think is in the patient’s best interests, which may not necessarily be in my own best interests.

“Now that this has happened, and I have the Medical Council against me and many colleagues, I find myself in an unsustainable predicament. I’m emotionally spent.”

Charlie Teo at the University of NSW in 1980.

Dr Teo’s partner, Traci Griffiths, is urging him to consider throwing in the towel, worried about the effect this latest blow is having on his health.

Ms Griffith, who was Dr Teo’s patient in 2009 and who he met again many years later, said “the toll this process has taken on Charlie has been terrible”.

“It saddens me that people who have not met him can make such terrible allegations, when he has helped thousands of people in their fight against life- threatening illnesses over the last three decades,” Ms Griffiths told the Saturday Telegraph.

“Charlie shares the treatment journey with every patient and their families. He feels their pain, sorrow and happiness with each and every one of them. The response to this week’s news has been overwhelming with thousands of messages of support from patients, their families and the general public.

Charlie has my full support and we will both traverse this terrible storm together.”

In a pre-emptive statement before the council ruling, Dr Teo said he was willing to provide greater transparency with his patient consultations.

Dr Charlie Teo as a young father. He has four daughters. Image: Supplied

He said he had always involved another neurosurgeon — usually a fellow neurosurgeon from one of the world’s leading medical schools. He has also accepted the Medical Council’s direction to consult with another neurosurgeon on the two rare types of surgery and will also have retrospective discussions with a colleague to review outcomes.

He told the Saturday Telegraph that he will need time to consider the ramifications these restrictions will have on his ability to offer what he believes is the best treatment for his patients both nationally and globally.

“Ideally, I would like to continue to apply what I believe is the best yardstick for surgical decision making: treat every patient as if they were a member of your own family’’ he said.

“It’s a great way of making sure that you don’t get influenced by other things such as your own risk to reputation and litigation, financial reward, ego and wanting to please your colleagues.”

Dr Charlie Teo performing an operation in India.

Dr Teo is worried that he may now start second guessing himself, making recommendations based on his “own professional survival” and what has been mandated by the Council.

He says that is something he has never done in his 35-year career, a career that includes famous patients such as Arkie Whiteley, Renee Rivkin, Jane McGrath, Lynette Waugh, Dr Chris O’Brien and Stan Zemanek.

Dr Teo said he feared the whole episode could turn him into one of those doctors who
put their professional survival ahead of patients.

“Instead of saying, definitely come over to Sydney, if you’re prepared to take the risk, I’m prepared to give it a shot. I don’t want to be saying to myself maybe the risk is too high and I don’t offer them surgery. I don’t want to be one of the doctors who I never wanted to be. I’ve never wanted to be one of those surgeons who’ve put their own interests before their patients’ interests.

“I won’t do it. I can’t do it.”

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Originally published as Dr Charlie Teo unsure whether he has a future as a neurosurgeon