01/24/2023
Example of education loophole: Munjed Al Muderis
Celebrity surgeon Munjed Al Muderis completed a total knee reconstruction on Mary Heffernan at the Macquarie University Hospital in October 2020. After the operation, Heffernan raised concerns about pain and swelling on multiple occasions, but was told there was nothing wrong. Eventually, she sought a second opinion and the new surgeon found the prosthetic was loose and the procedure needed to be completely redone. NSW’s health regulator, the HCCC, investigated and found “an inappropriate implant was used and that the diagnosis was missed”, Heffernan’s “ongoing severity of pain should have prompted a closer evaluation”, and “important information” was missing from Dr Al Muderis’ pre-operative review. Al Muderis completed additional training and his record remains clear. More than two years after the surgery, the Medical Council of NSW is continuing to investigate Al Muderis, but Heffernan has only been told “this process may continue to take some time”.
Insiders, doctors, patients and experts all warn the national health regulator AHPRA may not be fit for purpose.