Temporary restrictions have been placed upon renowned Sydney neurosurgeon Charlie Teo's medical licence after complaints about his work.
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The measures include a rule that Dr Teo obtains written support from an approved neurosurgeon before performing certain types of brain tumour surgery.
"If the written statement does not support the practitioner performing the procedure(s) the practitioner cannot recommend or perform the surgery," the statement on his registration says.
The restrictions follow the opening of an investigation by the Health Care Complaints Commission.
The complaints levelled against the neurosurgeon have not been publicly revealed.
A spokesman for Dr Teo said the conditions would not impact the doctor's surgical procedures and "will involve greater consultation - not a second opinion - with another neurosurgeon" regarding the rare types of cancer.
More detailed record-keeping and regular audits would increase "the transparency of his life-saving work to the medical profession".
Dr Teo said his patients were his "sole priority and accommodating these conditions will not affect the care that I have always taken in prolonging their lives."
The inquiry into complaints against Dr Teo caused the Medical Council of NSW to last week call an "immediate action panel".
The confidential panel was not disciplinary in nature and sought to place protections for the public, the council said.
Dr Teo has the right to appeal the decision to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The conditions are in force from Tuesday and will remain until the completion of a health watchdog investigation, unless the Medical Council decides to remove them earlier.
The written statement Dr Teo will need to obtain from an experienced neurosurgeon requires the other doctor to be satisfied Dr Teo has explained to the patient all material risks associated with the procedure and obtained informed consent.
The doctor will also need to be sure Dr Teo obtained informed financial consent and complied with the use of systems and plans implemented into his practice to manage interstate patients.
Dr Teo must also submit to random audits of his medical records and supervision meetings with an experienced neurosurgeon.
The high-profile doctor, who has four decades of medical experience, is well known for performing "last chance" brain surgery on patients after other neurosurgeons have deemed the condition inoperable.
He was embroiled in a public spat with colleagues in 2019 after charging one of his patients $120,000 for a life-saving operation.
Dr Teo strongly denied overcharging his patients.
Australian Associated Press
