Neurosurgeon Charlie Teo settles civil case with WA family

High-profile neurosurgeon Charlie Teo has settled a civil case with a WA family after he allegedly gave their sick mother “unrealistic advice”.

High-profile neurosurgeon Charlie Teo has settled a civil case with a Western Australian family after he claimed their sick mother may live to see her six-year-old son’s 18th birthday in what a court was told was “unrealistic advice”.

Widower Aran Thurston and his three children were seeking damages for harm to their mental health after Dr Teo allegedly understated the outcomes of his operation.

In September, 2018, Ebony Thurston was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour and was told she had just 12 to 18 months to live, court documents revealed.

Dr Teo allegedly advised Mrs Thurston that she should undergo an operation, where he would remove the tumour.

High profile neurosurgeon Charlie Teo has settled a civil case with a West Australian family. Picture: Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

However, court documents alleged Dr Teo did not appropriately communicate the “significant” risks associated with the surgery.

Dr Teo operated on Mrs Thurston in Sydney in October 2018, during which 95 per cent of her tumour was removed, a fundraising page set up at the time said.

However, shortly after the surgery, Mrs Thurston’s health deteriorated rapidly and she died six months later as a result of the tumour, court documents said.

The family alleged she was left with a “terribly quality of life” following the surgery and was “unable to properly say goodbye” to her family and loved ones.

Dr Teo is also alleged to have “breached his duty of care” when giving “unrealistic advice” in regards to the possible benefits of the surgery to Mrs Thurston’s life expectancy.

Dr Teo allegedly told Mrs Thurston that there was “a possibility” that she may even live to see her then six-year-old son’s 18th birthday.

Court documents allege Dr Teo operated although there was no “realistic potential benefit” to Mrs Thurston’s health.

Court documents alleged Dr Teo did not appropriately communicate the “significant” risks associated with the surgery. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“The risk of harm was a risk in respect of which a reasonable person in the position of the Defendant would have taken precautions,” the court documents said.

As a result of Dr Teo’s alleged medical negligence, each of the family members suffered psychiatric injury, loss and damage, the documents said.

The civil case was settled in the Supreme Court Sydney on Tuesday.

Dr Teo did not file a defence in the proceedings.

Dr Teo made headlines in 2023, after he was found guilty of unsatisfactory medical conduct by the Health Care Complaints Commission.

In an eight-day hearing, the Sydney surgeon fought allegations that he misled two patients.

Conditions were then placed on his registration which meant he would need another specialists written support before performing procedures in Australia.

He has since, however, been operating in other nations including China, Spain, Germany, India and Brazil.

Originally published as Neurosurgeon Charlie Teo settles civil case with WA family