A group of nine patients is demanding compensation from a Wollongong GP over allegedly botched skin cancer removal procedures on their faces.
The patients, who were treated by Dr Jeremy Reader, have also called for new regulations to ensure GPs refer all but the most simple cases to specialists.
Some of the patients involved were hospitalised with infections and suffered severe bleeding, and several have had corrective plastic surgery.
One patient said Dr Reader cut an artery while another said he was told scarring “was a mark of beauty” in some cultures.
The GP is also being investigated by the New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commission and Medical Council.
Woman unable to breath through nose after procedure
The patients are seeking compensation from Dr Reader through his insurance company.
Collene Bakewell-Hill had a small skin cancer on her nose removed by Dr Reader two years ago but she says she now can no longer breathe through it.
“I should have asked my 15-year-old son to go ahead with a knife and perform a plastic surgery procedure,” Ms Bakewell-Hill said.
“Dr Jeremy Reader could have said this is too much for me, I need to refer you on, and not touch me at all.”
Ms Bakewell-Hill said her inability to breathe properly has impacted on her mental health and quality of life.
She said GPs should not be allowed to remove facial skin cancers.
“They should not touch your face unless they’re dermatologists, plastic surgeons,” she said.
Karen Wilmott underwent plastic surgery to correct the work performed by Dr Reader.
“I looked like I had a hare lip, my lip was hitched up towards my nose in a very unusual manner,” Ms Wilmott said.
“It was very numb and lumpy, my lips were all out of shape, my teeth were exposed.”
Ms Wilmott said it was only after her procedure that she learned GPs were not required to undergo specialist training to remove skin cancers.
“The fact that someone can hang up a shingle and say that they’re a skin cancer clinic, I hope that that’s explored a little bit further,” she said.
“I don’t think that’s good enough and I don’t think there’s enough knowledge out there from people that that can be just a GP who decides to deal with those complaints in that way.”
Corrective surgery on work by GPs not isolated
Sydney plastic surgeon Pouria Moradi has corrected work done by GPs, including Dr Reader.
“A general practitioner to me is a specialist but they are a specialist in general medicine and not necessarily skin cancer work,” Dr Moradi said.
“Can they perform minor skin procedures and do procedures such as burning off minor skin cancers? Absolutely. But would I recommend them removing a skin cancer and performing a semi major surgery on the tip of the nose? Absolutely not.”
Dr Moradi said there were no rules to stop a GP carrying out these procedures.
“A lot of the time the patients trust the particular referral which happens to be the GP,” he said.
“If he or she is confident in doing the procedure then of course there’s no rules to stop them.
“Hopefully they are working within their skill set.”
But he said new regulations would be impractical.
“We live in Australia where we’ve got the highest rates of skin cancer, benign and malignant, and sometimes its just easier for a GP to take out a lesion than have a referral to a plastic surgeon,” Dr Moradi said.
“So it’s educating patients that there are options outside of a GP performing any procedure on the face.”
GPs ‘vital’ in treating skin cancers: college of general practitioners
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners said greater regulation was unnecessary.
In a statement, President Dr Frank Jones said GPs were equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to treat and diagnose skin cancers.
“Patients should feel confident approaching their GP with any concerns,” he said.
“If a GP feels a complex case needs a specialist’s opinion, they will refer the patient accordingly.”
“As such, the RACGP does not see a need for more regulation of general practice in this regard.”
The ABC contacted Dr Reader but he declined to comment.
The Wollongong clinic where he used to practice said he has not worked there for months.