Google review author unmasked as surgeon’s former student


A decorated surgeon has won a defamation action against a former student who was unmasked as the author of an online patient review on Google that was posted under a pseudonym and falsely claimed the surgeon had ripped off patients.

Dr Korana Musicki, a specialist vascular and endovascular surgeon and winner of a university medal from the University of Sydney, took action in the Federal Court after a review was posted on Google under the name “Dave Cross”.

Dr Korana Musicki, an experienced vascular and endovascular surgeon, has won her defamation action against a former medical student.

Dr Korana Musicki, an experienced vascular and endovascular surgeon, has won her defamation action against a former medical student.

The review, posted in September 2020, read: “terrible experience, was super keen to get me onto the table but then impossible to get a hold of for follow up, vague about incurred expenses, ended up with a massive bill. had no issues with the surgery but overall negative experience and no followup”.

The court heard that Musicki, whose practice is in Melbourne, corresponded repeatedly with Google in an effort to have the review removed or to be provided with the contact details of the purported patient to follow up with them.

Google refused to remove the post or identify the reviewer until Musicki brought preliminary discovery proceedings directly against the tech giant. In response to a court order, Google revealed that Dave Cross was a pseudonym used by an account associated with an email address.

Musicki recognised the email address and the phone number provided by Google as belonging to Erik de Tonnerre, a former medical student under her supervision at Royal Melbourne Hospital in 2018.

The court heard that de Tonnerre is now practising in Newcastle at John Hunter Hospital. The health professional registry records de Tonnerre as receiving his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Melbourne in 2018.

After Musicki sent de Tonnerre a concerns notice, the Google review was removed in April last year. Musicki took legal action last August. No response was filed and Musicki sought a default judgment.

In ruling against de Tonnerre, Justice Debra Mortimer found de Tonnerre’s “non compliance with the court’s orders is clear”.



Source link

Previous articleRaoul Pal says ethereum may outperform bitcoin in next bull market
Next articleBitcoin Price Gains Momentum as 'Store of Value' Amidst Banking … – Blockworks