Charlie Teo settles civil suit with family of deceased mother
Renowned neurosurgeon Charlie Teo has reached a settlement in a civil case brought by the family of a late Western Australian mother, Ebony Thurston, who underwent brain cancer surgery in 2018.
The case, heard in the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday, was initiated by widower Aran Thurston and his three children, who sought damages for mental harm allegedly caused by Dr Teo’s advice and the outcome of the operation.
The plaintiffs argued that the risks associated with the surgery were "understated" and that Ms Thurston, who was diagnosed with glioblastoma on the brain stem in September 2018, never fully recovered before passing away in April 2019. Justice David Davies stated in court that the family claimed Dr Teo “owed each of the plaintiffs a duty to exercise reasonable care and skill” in his treatment, ensuring no psychiatric harm would be inflicted upon them.
Court documents alleged that Dr Teo discouraged Ms Thurston from pursuing chemotherapy and radiation therapy, providing "unrealistic" expectations regarding the benefits of surgery. The family asserted that the operation offered "no realistic potential benefit" to her health and ultimately led to a rapid deterioration in her condition, severely impacting her quality of life in her final months.
A fundraising page set up for Ms Thurston in 2018 stated that she underwent surgery in Sydney on October 24 of that year, with 95% of her tumour reportedly removed. However, her health continued to decline following the procedure.
The lawsuit, initiated in May 2024, was settled early in the legal process. Mr Thurston and his adult daughter agreed to the settlement, and the two younger children followed suit soon after. While the details of the settlements remain confidential, court documents show that family members had sought over $200,000 each in damages. Justice Davies approved the terms for the third and fourth plaintiffs, commending all parties for reaching an early resolution, which he said would allow the younger plaintiffs to "move on with their lives".
Dr Teo did not file a defence in the proceedings due to the swift settlements. Justice Davies clarified that this should not be seen as an admission of fault.
The high-profile surgeon has been a contentious figure in the medical community. In 2023, he was found guilty of unsatisfactory medical conduct by the Health Care Complaints Commission, which imposed conditions on his registration. He is now required to obtain written support from another specialist before performing certain procedures in Australia to "protect the health and safety of the public".
Since the restrictions on his practice in Australia, Dr Teo has continued to operate internationally, performing surgeries in China, Spain, Germany, India and Brazil, with some Australian patients traveling overseas for his treatment.
The settlement of this case marks another chapter in the ongoing scrutiny of Dr Teo’s medical practices and the impact of his surgical interventions.
Images: Instagram