I have known Dr Kiran Phadke and his wife Linda and daughter Alana for over 25 years.
I am writing to you to attest to the wonderful, intelligent and kind man that is Dr Phadke.
I am truly outraged by these allegations that threaten to defame a wonderful doctor I have known my entire life.
Not only have I known Dr Phadke on a personal level but when my own family was struck by cancer, Dr Phadke provided us with support, guidance and true friendship.
In essence, Kiran was a beacon of light during some very dark hours.
I have been following closely the news coverage from the UK with regards to alleged malpractice - I assure readers, Dr Kiran Phadke is nothing short of a miracle worker and pioneer in oncology.
I cannot believe that a man who has devoted his life to medicine and our community has been accused of such malicious and untrue activities. I find it abhorrent.
Kiran - thank you for years of friendship and support with my grandmother and father.
I am truly grateful and forever indebted.
Kylie Jackson, Woodford, UK
It very much concerns me about the negative and hostile press given in respect of Dr Kiran Phadke.
My family and I were neighbours of Kiran for over 20 years in Lilli Pilli. Our daughters were best friends. We have been in his home many times.
I have been to his practise and met many of his professional colleagues. Not once had this very fine man ever displayed anything but kindness to both patients and friends.
Judging from what I’ve read there maybe sinister motives from some who have professional and monetary issues.The truth will come out and Kiran will walk tall. Shame on those who put the knives in his back.
Lew Jackson
In 2009, my 87-year-old husband John, was diagnosed with the dreaded asbestos cancer, mesothelioma. At this most terrible of times, he was referred to the wonderful, caring Dr Kiran Phadke.
John knew his fate, but, Dr Phadke made his last weeks so much easier because although he was a patient he could talk with Dr Phadke as a friend.
He knew that Dr Phadke would assess him as a person not a number and use his professional skills and incredible knowledge to provide him with appropriate and responsible treatment in the most compassionate way.
The treatment was first class at all times by Dr Phadke and the oncology staff at Sutherland Hospital. Both John and I had complete faith in Dr Phadke then, and to this day I still most definitely do.
Should I ever need to see an oncologist my doctor of choice then and now would definitely be Dr Kiran Phadke.
Daphne Patterson, Caringbah
Our company Dynamic Flooring Australia has had several of our staff’s families affected by cancer in the past few years. Dr Kiran Phadke had treated one of our teams’ Dad for almost 17 years.
In light of the support and treatment that Dr Phadke and his team gave we approached the Oncology Unit at Sutherland Hospital to see if we could help out by way of a fundraiser.
When I first met Dr Phadke I was blown away by the genuine passion and commitment he has for his patients’ care, wellbeing and comfort.
One thing was certainly clear and that was Dr Phadke was always looking at ways to improve the facilities where patients were being treated.
With Dr Phadke’s leadership, a small team of volunteers set out to get sponsors and prizes to raffle. Dr Phadke always took the time to go through my questions in relation to what could be achieved by the fundraiser and always with the benefit to the patients as his priority.
I’m personally a better person for having the opportunity to get to know him.
Ann-Maree Lambert, Riverwood
I was alarmed to hear of the criticism of Dr Phadke’s medical treatment. I work in an unrelated area of medicine.
I have never heard any of my patients who also have seen Dr Phadke make any negative comments about him or his medical approach.
Dr Phadke is a very caring, skilful compassionate medical practitioner who communicates well with his patients.
Although I do not have any knowledge of the individual cases being questioned, I am sure his patients who have heard media reports would have been unnecessarily alarmed. The treatment of patients requires individualising treatment so that the patient’s needs are paramount. Chemotherapeutic agents can be quite toxic.
I can only feel great concern for Dr Phadke and his family with regard to the stress they would be under with this trial by media. I can only hope any investigation is concluded promptly and the results quickly communicated to the public.
Michael Symons, Miranda
I’ve known Dr. Kiran Phadke, firstly as a neighbour and subsequently as a friend, for 25 years and I’ve observed him to be a caring, compassionate doctor and a constant, community minded contributor.
My dearly loved Grandmother was treated successfully by Dr Phadke and I would seek to be cared by Dr Phadke should I require such medical treatment.
I deplore and question the manner in which Dr Phadke’s professionalism and dedication to his patients and their treatment is being manipulated.
Veronica Fujiwara, Burraneer
In 2001 my wife Robin had her gall bladder taken out. Pathology tests indicated cancer as a possibility.
Like most people in these circumstances, we attended the wonderful St George Cancer Clinic, but after months of investigations, no one could be certain of whether it was cancer or not.
Then one day, Dr Kiran Phadke came and sat down on Robin’s bed and smiled saying yes, you once had cancer, but now you don’t. That was the first release from the stressful uncertainty.
Robin was treated by Kiran, as we came to know him, for nine years, until one day he said I don’t think we need to continue seeing you anymore.
We have the highest regard for this lovely, caring man and, should the need arise in the future, would have no hesitation in going back to him.
In our experience, he would make very difficult decisions in what he believed to be the best interest for every one of his individual patients.
Ivan McKay, Peakhurst Heights
