The Briefing The journo who took on a surgeon (and won) + Nats face leadership spill
Jan 28, 2026
Charlotte Grieve, investigative journalist and author of Duty to Warn, recounts uncovering a controversial surgical saga that began with her father’s consultation. She details consent failures, conflicted patient narratives, traumatic medical outcomes, and the legal battle that followed. The conversation probes accountability, the cost of denial, and how reporting sparked a landmark court fight.
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Investigation Sparked By A Family Appointment
- Charlotte Grieve's investigation began after her amputee father consulted Dr Munjed Al Muderis in 2018 and she felt alarmed by the appointment.
- That early personal concern prompted her to later examine his practices more closely when she joined an investigations team.
Duty To Warn Is Legally Crucial
- Surgeons must disclose material risks that could change a patient's decision to undergo treatment.
- In this case, Charlotte found widespread failures to warn patients of significant risks before surgery.
Conflict Between Advocacy And Profit
- Dr Munjed Al Muderis both advocated for the surgery and profited from a patented implant system he owned.
- The judge found he put profits and fame above patient safety, worsening harms.
