Brain tumour patient Les McNab devastated HCCC ruling means he cannot return to Dr Charlie Teo

Four years ago, neurosurgeon Charlie Teo successfully operated on Les McNab. But Les’s brain tumour is back and his family want to choose Dr Teo again. Their reality is terrifying.

The family of a man whose ­aggressive brain tumour has returned four years after surgery say those who have robbed him of his choice to have Charlie Teo operate have “blood on their hands”.

A week ago Les McNab got the dreaded call to say his brain tumour had grown back.

Just eight weeks earlier his routine check found no sign of the “monster”.

Devastated, Mr McNab and his wife Jodie instinctively sought out Dr Teo — the man who operated when their neurosurgeon told him to go home and prepare to die.

Dr Teo’s surgery was a success and gave Mr McNab “great times, and he even became a grandfather”.

Mrs Barnwell-McNab is devastated the Health Care Complaints Commission ruling means her husband cannot have the doctor of his choice – unless he pays hundreds of thousands to travel overseas.

Jodie Barnwell-McNab and Les McNab in the hospital after his successful operation by surgeon Charlie Teo. Picture: Supplied

“What does the HCCC suggest we do now?” she asked The Sunday Telegraph, revealing she had written to the authority on multiple occasions during recent hearings, pleading with them to take into account the hundreds of patients who had been saved by Dr Teo.

The stark reality that they can’t turn to Dr Teo again has hit the family like a tonne of bricks.

Les McNab celebrating a major birthday milestone with their family. Picture: Supplied

Neurosurgeon Charlie Teo has offered to help the famil pro bono. Picture Jeff Darmanin

One surgeon has told Mr McNab his tumour is inoperable. Others considering surgery are not confident of success as far as quality of life.

The Sunday Telegraph understands a surgeon in Singapore has examined Mr McNab’s scans and agreed to perform the surgery with Dr Teo assisting. Dr Teo confirmed he has agreed the tumour is operable and that he would take part pro bono.

Mr McNab, however, would still have to come up with roughly $50,000 for the Singapore-based surgeons and medical staff and associated hospital costs, as well as accommodation for his wife — a financial burden he is not prepared to place on his family.

Charlie Teo and his partner Traci Griffiths are fighting for the neurosurgeon’s right to operate freely in Australia. Picture: Jeff Darmanin

Mrs Barnwell-McNab posted a letter on social media: “To the disgusting hyenas … with personal vendettas spreading false and misleading information about Dr Charlie Teo. Hang your heads in shame. HCCC you got it so wrong.”

Mrs Barnwell-McNab said “a witch hunt” took away her family’s right to choose Dr Teo.

“Australia is a free country? Bullshit. Now we are robbed of the right to have the best surgeon in Australia, if not the world, operate on Les in his own country,” she said.

“My husband’s only hope now is to be sent to a surgeon he has never met and put his life in his hands. This has caused immense anxiety and stress for Les and myself.”

In her post she said: “You all carried on about Charlie’s costs (which was lies). Now it will cost families more to travel to other countries, which is out of reach for most families.

“You all have blood on your hands. What you have done to Charlie is a national disgrace.

“People are literally dying when they could have been saved.”

The HCCC found Dr Teo guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct in relation to two surgeries with grave outcomes and placed conditions on him that effectively mean he can no longer operate in Australia.

Cydonee Mardon is a former patient of Dr Teo