Neurosurgeon Charlie Teo has admitted he "took out the wrong bit" of a woman's brain during surgery, but maintains his "enemies" in the medical world want to destroy him.
- The commission is investigating complaints related to two women who cannot be identified
- Both died after surgery conducted by neurosurgeon Charlie Teo
- Dr Teo became emotional as he was swamped by supporters outside the hearing
Appearing before the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC), the 65-year-old has continued giving evidence on day five of a disciplinary hearing into his conduct with two patients.
Three neurosurgeons gave evidence last week that the operation was "excessive", and explained why the woman never woke from surgery.
Dr Teo was cross-examined about his decision to take out a chunk of his former patient's frontal lobe while removing her brain tumour.
"I took out too much. I took out the wrong bit of the frontal lobe," Dr Teo admitted in evidence today.
"I actually didn't know at the time. I'm learning from this case.
"It wasn't negligence. Maybe some ignorance on my behalf but certainly not negligence.
"I did the wrong thing. Was that my intention? Absolutely not. I didn't try and hurt her. "
The woman who had likened Dr Teo to "God" was left in a vegetative state after the operation, and died about a month later.
The HCCC's Professional Standards Committee is considering whether restrictions currently preventing Dr Teo from operating in Australia without written consent should be extended or removed.
Barrister Kate Richardson SC — who is representing the HCCC — cross-examined Dr Teo about comments he made last week to the media that one of the complainants had been "hoodwinked" and "coerced" into lodging a complaint.
Dr Teo has told the hearing the man's original complaint was about the difficulty in repatriating his comatose wife from Sydney to Western Australia where she lived, not about his conduct as a surgeon.
He said a Western Australian doctor "turned that into a complaint not about the system but a complaint about Dr Teo".
Dr Teo did not name the doctor.
"[The complainant] has been hoodwinked into believing my intentions weren't honourable … and that he should file a complaint about me," Dr Teo said.
"So I stand by those comments to the media.
"I think he has been suggested to by multiple doctors over this period of time."
He described the man as "a lovely guy" who "called me Charlie".
"We had a good relationship. I made the assumption he's been got to by my enemies."
The man in evidence last week said his wife, like the other woman, was left in a "vegetative state" for about six months after Dr Teo operated on her stage 4 brain stem tumour.
She died in March 2019.
The man said he and his wife proceeded with the operation because Dr Teo told them there was a "5 per cent risk" of death.
Dr Teo however, said he likely told the family there was a "100 per cent" risk of "some degree of paralysis" from the operation.
Ms Richardson suggested to Dr Teo that he has changed his evidence throughout the hearing, but he has denied that.
The neurosurgeon was swamped by former patients and supporters on his way into the hearing, many clamouring to touch and speak to him as he passed.
"Charlie! You remember me?" one called, as others chanted his name.
Dr Teo appeared emotional, wiping away a tear as he addressed media.
"What can I say? It's uh, it's overwhelming. It's crazy.
"Anyway, I'm here for them. That's why I'm here. It's not for me."
The hearing continues.