Plastic surgeon Dr Laith Barnouti apologises after inserting dropped implant in patient’s chin

A top plastic surgeon has apologised and refuted claims he is a ‘reckless surgeon” after admitting to dropping a chin implant on the floor during a delicate patient procedure at a Sydney private hospital.

Dr Laith Barnouti has apologised over the incident.

A top plastic surgeon has apologised and refuted claims he is a ‘reckless surgeon” after admitting to dropping a chin implant on the floor during a delicate patient procedure at a Sydney private hospital.

Laith Barnouti has come under scrutiny from the state’s healthcare watchdog for inserting an implant into the chin of a patient after it was dropped onto the floor of an operating theatre at Hunters Hill Private Hospital in 2021, a legal tribunal has heard

The NSW Healthcare Commissions Commission investigated the incident after receiving an anonymous complaint about the surgery.

The HCCC took the case to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal which has found the incident amounted to unsatisfactory professional conduct.

During the procedure, which was intended to enhance the appearance of the patient’s chin, the implant “ejected itself” from its designated pocket and fell onto the floor of the operating theatre, the tribunal heard.

Dr Laith Barnouti.

Mr Barnouti then picked up the implant and placed it in a bath of Betadine before proceeding with the operation.

The HCCC told the tribunal there were omissions in the operation report which Mr Barnouti was required to complete which included disclosing that the implant had fallen onto an unsterile surface.

The HCCC took the case to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

The HCCC claimed Mr Barnouti acted “recklessly” and should have been aware of the possible risk of long-term infection.

Mr Barnouti acknowledged the omissions from the operating report but denied there was any attempt or intention by him to hide the incident, describing it as an “error of judgment”.

Mr Barnouti told the tribunal he informed the patient of the incident four days after the surgery.

“In hindsight, I acknowledge that it was not appropriate to re-use the implant. I have apologised to both the patient and the hospital management for this error of judgment,” Mr Barnouti said.

“The decision to re-use the implant was a spontaneous act without sufficient consideration. This is the first time I have ever dropped an implant in 22 years of surgical experience.

“I also strongly refute that I am a ‘reckless’ surgeon and that I have a previous history of using expired implants.

“I have learnt from this incident and now always order spare implants for all procedures to avoid a similar future incident.”

The tribunal, in its decision, found Mr Barnouti guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct and imposed an official reprimand.

“His reaction to the event was significantly below the standard which was expected of him given his training and experience,” the tribunal stated.

“His action failed the trust which (the patient) was entitled to place in him (and) led to the requirement to have the implant removed and replaced with a sterile version in order to be sure that the initial implant was not contaminated when it was inserted.”

The tribunal accepted Mr Barnouti has demonstrated remorse for his error, and noted he treats and operates on about 3000 patients each year.

Mr Barnouti – who first registered to practice medicine in Australia in 2003 – still works at Hunters Hill Private Hospital.