Trolls go after Henry Woo in support of Charlie Teo

Cancer specialist Henry Woo flooded with abuse since taking on brain surgeon Charlie Teo.

Sydney cancer specialist Henry Woo (left) is taking a break from Twitter after copping abuse for his questioning of brain surgeon Charlie Teo (right).

Sydney cancer specialist Henry Woo says he has been flooded with abusive messages and phone calls since questioning the “really disturbing” trend of ­people using online platforms to raise money for potentially lifesaving surgery from brain surgeon Charlie Teo.

Professor Woo took to Twitter this week to highlight the GoFundMe campaigns — 113 on his count — where people are seeking ­donations to help cover the high cost of surgery from Dr Teo.

He said if it were “valid surgery”, it should be provided in the public system and should not leave patients destitute.

Professor Woo, who has more than 5500 followers, yesterday said he would take a break from Twitter because of the abuse.

Some Twitter users accused Professor Woo of being “jealous” of Dr Teo. Before locking his account, Professor Woo said he “never expected trolling to be of this magnitude”.

Dr Henry Woo's sign-off on Twitter yesterday.

“Not just social media but hate mail and even abuse (sic) phone calls,” he said.

Some fundraising campaigns have raised more than $120,000 in the hope Dr Teo can save someone’s life.

Charlie Teo. Picture: Quentin Jones/Headpress

Dr Teo, who takes on cases other surgeons deem in­operable, has defended the high cost of his procedures, saying he gets only a portion of the overall payment.

Former patient Alyson Dunlop called him a “miracle worker”.

In a fiery interview on the Nine Network’s Today show, Dr Teo took aim at Professor Woo.

“The whole Twitter thing is all about trying to destroy or discredit my reputation,” he said.

“I would say to that person, ‘Listen, there is a lot better things to do we should be doing as doctors rather than trolling through websites looking for ways to discredit a colleague’.”