Dr George Dimitroulis, a Melbourne surgeon, is being sued by a former patient in a Victorian court. The patient claims that Dr Dimitroulis failed to inform her that he invented an “experimental” device used in her jaw joint replacement surgery. She also alleges that he created the classification system used to diagnose her condition, which led to the surgery.
According to court documents, the patient, referred to as Bianca*, was not fully advised of the risks associated with the operation. She claims the surgery resulted in life-changing injuries, chronic pain, and inability to work. The lawsuit also states that Dr Dimitroulis’ classification system is not widely adopted by other surgeons and that less invasive treatments were available.
Dr Dimitroulis has denied any negligence or that the device, known as an OMX prosthesis, caused Bianca’s injuries. His defence argued that his practices were in line with widely accepted professional standards in Australia.
The lawsuit, filed by law firm Slater & Gordon, references a research paper authored by Dr Dimitroulis in 2013, which proposed a new surgical classification for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
Bianca alleges that Dr Dimitroulis used this system to diagnose her with “level 5” disease and recommend surgery as her only option. She claims she was not informed that the OMX TMJ prosthesis was experimental or of the potential risks, which included facial paralysis, chronic pain, and ear damage.
In his defence, Dr Dimitroulis asserted that he informed Bianca of his role in designing the OMX TMJ prosthesis and discussed the known risks of the surgery with her. He denies that he failed to offer nonsurgical treatment options and claims Bianca described her pre-surgery pain as moderate.
This case follows a previous investigation by the medical regulator, which found Dr Dimitroulis had not properly warned another patient of potential nerve injuries from TMJ replacement surgery, leading to disciplinary action. He completed additional training on informed consent and record keeping, and no conditions remain on his practice.
*Name changed to protect patient confidentiality.
Source: The Guardian.
