30 neurosurgeons rush to defend Dr Charlie Teo against accusations

Neurosurgeons from around the world have leapt to their colleague Charlie Teo’s defence after he was accused of operating on the wrong side of two patients’ brains.

Cydonee Mardon

@cydmardon

3 min read

September 12, 2021 - 1:32PM

The Saturday Telegraph

NSW

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Thirty neurosurgeons have thrown their support behind Charlie Teo after he was accused of operating on the wrong side of two patients’ brains.

In a statement the doctors — from Australia and abroad — have defended the world-renowned neurosurgeon, saying they were “saddened” to read stories that “only serve to diminish the outstanding work Charlie has contributed to the neurosurgical profession over many years”.

Neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo at his offices in Rosebery. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

A Sydney Morning Herald story in August referred to the case of Bradbury woman Michelle Smith, who underwent a craniotomy in 2003 to remove a tumour after suffering debilitating seizures.

According to that Herald story, specialists who reviewed MRI scans from Ms Smith’s brain surgery more than 10 years later were “horrified” when they “suspected” Dr Teo “had not only failed to remove her tumour, he had operated on the wrong side of her brain”.

Sydney neurosurgeon Dr Michael Donnellan, who has operated with Dr Teo, said “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.

Dr Donnellan said “the possibility of wrong side surgery is negligible” in this setting.

The Herald also reported a medical malpractice suit was filed against Dr Teo after he performed a biopsy on a military serviceman’s brain when he was working in Arkansas.

US radiologist Warren Stringer confirmed he was the radiologist involved in the case.

“The fundamental problem is that on this patient the stereotactic CAT scan used to guide the biopsy was mislabelled; right and left were reversed,” Assistant Professor Stringer said.

He said the result of the biopsy Dr Teo performed was positive, as it was a bilateral and more or less symmetrical disease.

Dr Teo, who is in Germany as part of an overseas sabbatical where he is discussing neuroscience with leading surgeons in Europe and the US, strongly denied the claims.

“For the record, I have never, ever operated on the wrong side of the brain in my entire career,” he told The Sunday Telegraph in August.

Neurosurgeons have been quick to defend Dr Teo.

The Saturday Telegraph front page on August 28.

The 30 neurosurgeons, who decided to speak publicly after reading the series of articles in the Herald, said Dr Teo’s work was of the highest quality.

“As neurosurgical colleagues of Dr Charlie Teo, we have worked with, been taught by and consulted with him on many complex cases over the last 20 years,” the statement said.

“We believe Charlie’s commitment to teaching, research, and patient care over this period has been of the highest quality.

During his career, Dr Teo had been at the “forefront of brain tumour research, surgical technique, and workflow innovation, with special regard to minimally invasive neurosurgery”, the statement read.

“His commitment to brain tumour awareness via his charitable work has translated into much-needed funds for research, world-class publications, advancement of knowledge and heightened public consciousness about this devastating condition.

“Charlie is also heavily involved in teaching and training neurosurgeons in less fortunate countries to advance global neurosurgical treatment.”