Melbourne surgeon George Dimitroulis accused of negligence over ‘experimental’ jaw device

·

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 patient, who does not want to be identified, claims the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) replacement left her unable to work and with chronic pain.
The patient, who does not want to be identified, claims the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) replacement left her unable to work and with chronic pain. Photo: The Guardian 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.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

St George Saints bounce back with a big win

The St George Saints Mens White team were on a mission to avenge previous losses this week. Read more about it here.

Erdogan to be invited to Cyprus-led EU Council in push for regional dialogue

Cyprus has revealed plans to host a high-level EU Council meeting in April 2026, inviting leaders including Erdogan.

Judicial term ends for Cyprus Judge who made landmark ruling in Thanasis Nicolaou case

Judge Doria Varoshiotou will not be made a permanent judge after completing her two-year probationary term.

‘Soldiers of God’ accused of desecrating historic Greek Orthodox church in Nazareth

The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth has accused the “Soldiers of God” of attacking the site while it was closed.

Prosecutor backs conditional release of convicted neo-Nazi figure Ilias Kasidiaris

An appeals court prosecutor has recommended the conditional release of Ilias Kasidiaris, the convicted leader of neo-Nazi group Golden Dawn.

You May Also Like

Greece’s party leaders agree to hold TV debate ahead of second election

A debate between all the leaders of Greece's parliamentary parties will be held ahead of the June 25 national election.

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari commit early to Australia’s United Cup 2025

Greece’s [12] Stefanos Tsitsipas and[9] Maria Sakkari, China’s [7] Zheng Qinwen and Norway’s [9] Casper Ruud have committed to United Cup.

Greek Australian Writers’ Festival to showcase the works of popular authors

The Greek Festival of Sydney and UTS Journalism and Writing are proudly presenting the Greek Australian Writers’ Festival.