Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Munjed Al Muderis has experienced a setback in his defamation lawsuit against Nine, the parent company of various Australian media outlets including 60 Minutes, The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Age. Al Muderis claimed that a series of reports published in September 2022 severely tarnished his reputation and hindered advancements in prosthetic limb technology by two decades.
Nine defended their reporting by asserting that the claims made were either true or protected under the public interest journalism principle. Justice Wendy Abraham acknowledged the journalists’ beliefs that their work served the public interest, affirming the decision in Nine’s favour. She stated that the previous positive media portrayal of Al Muderis’s practice required adjustments, as the investigation unveiled a different aspect of his work.
This case marks a significant moment in Australian defamation law, as it tested the public interest defence for journalistic reporting. A representative from Nine expressed that their victory reinforces the importance of journalism, emphasising their commitment to uphold such practices in the future.