By Alison Bevege For Daily Mail Australia
Published: 00:10 EDT, 7 June 2019 | Updated: 00:10 EDT, 7 June 2019
A workaholic surgeon with bipolar disorder sacked from seven hospitals for his angry outbursts can return to practice after successfully appealing his suspension.
The doctor, whose name has been suppressed, was prone to angry outbursts, and would yell repeated obscenities at himself, breathe deeply and bang the instrument trolley during operations, scaring other staff, according to a decision published by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
During an operation in October 2017, he told a theater technician: 'You'd better not f**king contaminate this drape. If this woman gets a f**king infection because of you ... I will f**king find you and p**s in your mouth.'
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal where the surgeon's appeal against his Medical Board suspension was heard in March. He can now practise subject to strict conditions
The surgeon who was described as having a 'rigid, obsessional, perfectionistic, narcissistic, workaholic personality' worked 16 hours each weekday plus Saturday and Sunday mornings for many years.
In 2010 he lost his surgical job, sparking a mental deterioration.
He then lost jobs at seven different private hospitals due to his outbursts and interpersonal difficulties.
By December 2017 he was suffering from suicidal thoughts, suffered a hypomanic episode and was then diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
The surgeon strongly disagrees with his diagnosis and has not accepted any blame for his numerous sackings.
However, after making a suicide threat in December 2017 he had to be restrained by police and taken to hospital.
He was admitted to hospital under an involuntary treatment order, but after three weeks in a treatment facility he returned to work in regional areas and began posting abusive messages online.
The surgeon filed complaints about the way he had been treated by doctors which were dismissed but which prompted the Medical Board of Australia to investigate.
The board stripped his licence in August last year to protect public safety, saying if he continued to practise as a surgeon he would pose a 'serious risk' to patients.
The unidentified surgeon has been allowed back to work as long as he does not work for more than 30 hours a week and continues to see a psychiatrist. He's also been ordered to have a professional mentor guide him through the stresses of practicing surgery. (stock image)
The board's decision referred to an increased chance of errors and compromised judgement in patient care, as well as the potential to compromise patient care with angry outbursts that undermine the surgical team's performance.
But the suspension was lifted last month subject to strict conditions after the surgeon challenged the Medical Board's decision at VCAT.
After a hearing in March, an appeals board of three VCAT members including a senior member were satisfied that the surgeon, known only as 'EYJ', had improved mental health after seeing a psychiatrist.
The strict conditions placed on the surgeon include that he is not allowed to work more than 30 hours a week.
To make sure he does not work too much, he has to provide an itemised list to the Medical Board every six weeks detailing all the hours he has worked, including any hours at home where he carried out any duties to do with his job.
He also must continue seeing a psychiatrist and have another doctor mentor him for at least one hour a month to help him deal with the stresses of being a surgeon.
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