Top surgeon says parents shouldn't remortgage their houses to raise funds for Charlie Teo's $120,000 brain operations for their sick children because 'best care is available for free'
- Cancer patients are increasingly using crowdfunding to pay for brain surgery
- Surgeon Charlie Teo has come under fire for charging patients up to $120,000
- Neurosurgical Society of Australasia chief says operations are available for free
Cancer sufferers desperate for life-saving surgery are mortgaging their homes to pay celebrity doctors like Charlie Teo when they could be getting the same treatment for free.
Dr Teo, Australia's most famous neurosurgeon, has been in the headlines this week after being criticised that his fee for brain surgery fee - up to $120,000 - forces patients to crowdfund.
The Sydney-based surgeon defended himself by claiming he pockets just 10 per cent of the fee and saying public hospitals were 'unwilling to learn his technique'.
But the head of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia said it was 'disheartening' to see the amount of GoFundMe accounts or hear of patients mortgaging their homes.
Charlie Teo (pictured above) charges a huge $120,000 for brain surgeries and claims it's because he achieves the best results
Sarah Olson told The Australian the country's public hospitals have some of the best brain surgeons in the world - with the only difference being that treatment comes at no cost.
'We are incredibly fortunate in this country to have many skilled neurosurgeons who dedicate their time and expertise to ensure all Australians with brain cancer have access to free world-class treatment,' Dr Olson said.
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'It is therefore disheartening to see patients turning to crowdfunding and mortgaging their houses.'
Sarah Olson (pictured) says there is no real evidence that surgery based treatments give people a longer life expectancy
Dr Olson said many surgeons provide treatment like Dr Teo with little or no gap for private patients.
'(This treatment aims to provide the) highest possibility of extended quality of life,' she said.
Operating out of the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, Dr Teo claims to have performed a total of 11,000 operations.
And he claims people pay him large amounts because he achieves the best results.
'Am I as good as people say I am? If you speak to any neurosurgeon in Australia they will say it’s all rubbish,' Dr Teo said.
'(But) I am lauded and seduced overseas by the best hospitals. Surely there is something to that?'
His efforts in the medical field have seen him named as a member of the Order of Australia, but Dr Teo believes this isn't why he has come under fire this week.
He says other neurosurgeons simply feel intimidated by him and his abilities, and subsequently refused to endorse him.
Dr Teo hit back on Tuesday, acknowledging Professor Woo had brought up an 'important issue'
The surgeon claims he only receives $8,000 from the total cost of the procedure, with the rest going to hospital fees and specialists.
Ms Olson said surgery was not always the best decision for cancer patients and that surgery does not necessarily result in a longer life expectancy.
It comes after Professor Henry Woo, a urologist at the University of Sydney School of Medicine, counted 113 GoFundMe campaigns launched by patients hoping to fund an operation.
In particular, Professor Woo pointed to a campaign that was launched for a cancer-stricken girl.
Professor Henry Woo, a urologist at the University of Sydney School of Medicine, counted as many as 113 GoFundMe campaigns had been launched by patients to fund the operations
The family of Amelia 'Millie' Lucas (left), from Perth, raised over $150,000 online so they could afford Dr Teo's surgery for a malignant brain tumour. Her sister Tess, 15, (right) also has the same brain tumour condition but has since been given the all-clear
'Something is seriously wrong if a terminally ill girl with a brain tumour has to raise $120K to have surgery Dr Charlie Teo has offered to do for $60-80K,' Woo tweeted.
'If it was valid surgery, it could/should be performed in the public system under Medicare.'
Professor Woo was referencing the case of Perth girl Amelia 'Millie' Lucas, 12, who made headlines last week after Dr Teo said he would perform open brain surgery that could save her life.
Her family turned to GoFundMe and were able to raise more than $150,000 for the potentially life-saving surgery in 11 days, exceeding the $100,000 target they had set.
WHO IS CHARLIE TEO?
Charlie Teo is a Sydney-based neurosurgeon and director of the Centre for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery at Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick.
The doctor has garnered international media attention for his reputation to take on 'inoperable' or high-risk cases.
Dr Charlie Teo
Teo has been praised for his practices but has also been the subject of criticism for his 'controversial methods' and for offering patients 'false hope'.
Among his notable patients is Australian pianist Aaron McMillan, 30, who was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor in 2001.
Dr Teo successfully removed the tumour, but it unfortunately returned two years later and led to McMillan's death in 2007.
Teo also treated 2UE radio broadcaster Stan Zemanek during his battle with glioblastoma in 2006.
Teo spent ten years working in the US after claiming he was unable to secure work due to his 'bad name in Australia'.
The surgeon has defended his methods saying he is willing to extend patients' lives if they are not ready to give into their illness.
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