Professor Munjed Al Muderis, a top Australian osseointegration surgeon, has issued a Concerns Notice against Nine Publishing over recent publications.
Lawyers for Professor Al Muderis served a 40-page Concerns Notice, the initial step in issuing defamation proceedings in Australia, on Nine and its publications on Friday, 23 September 2022.
It alleges that Professor Al Muderis has been the subject of an unfair, unjustified, and unlawful attack by a mass media organisation on his professionalism and character.
The Notice lists more than 60 defamatory imputations against Nine Publishing that reflect the alleged false and misleading content of their publications.
Professor Al Muderis was the subject of a joint investigation by Channel Nine program 60 Minutes, the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age in which a number of the surgeon’s patients accused him of not taking proper care of them.
Professor Al Muderis is an Australian trained Orthopaedic Surgeon and holds several academic titles including from Macquarie University, the University of Notre Dame Australia School of Medicine Sydney, and the University of Sydney.
Professor Al Muderis also teaches at Notre Dame and Macquarie Universities, trains local and international surgeons, registrars, and medical students.
In 2020, he won the NSW Australian of the Year award, being recognised for his humanitarian work and contribution to medicine. In 2022 he earned his doctorate from the University of Notre Dame in medical science, with his thesis – osseointegration.
Professor Munjed Al Muderis with an osseointegration prosthesis
“I must take this action to not only protect my reputation but also to reaffirm to my patients that they have received, and will continue to receive, the quality care and attention that they deserve,” Professor Al Muderis said.
Professor Kevin Tetsworth, one of the most experienced osseointegration surgeons in the world – second only to Professor Al Muderis – supports Al Muderis in his action against Nine Publishing.
“The vast majority of Munjed’s patients enjoy a significant improvement in their mobility and quality of life. This is not only due to the quality of surgical care he provides, but the lifelong therapeutic relationship both he and the patients enter,” he said.
“It’s this continuing support and the comprehensive care that plays such an important role in the success of osseointegration surgery– it’s a partnership, like a marriage – in sickness AND in health,” Professor Tetsworth added.
Nine Publishing have 28 days to respond to the Notice from the date of receipt. Should they fail to retract their publications Federal Court proceedings will follow.
Professor Al Muderis with an osseointegration patient