CGP
02-08-2009, 09:48 PM
This story has been big in Australia for some time, but only now is the doctor facing the various crimincal charges brought against him after it was discovered (way too late) that he was performing surgery he had no clue about, doing surgery which wasn't necessary, or performing the wrong procedure! :eek:
Full Report: news.com.au (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25025492-3102,00.html)
SURGEON Jayant Patel was virtually unemployable in the US and lied to gain employment in Australia where he now faces criminal charges.
The Magistrates Court in Brisbane heard Patel had a long history of disciplinary hearings in New York and Oregon before he was recruited as the director of surgery at Bundaberg Base Hospital.
Patel, 58, who worked at the hospital between 2003 and 2005, is facing a committal hearing on 14 charges including the manslaughter of James Phillips, Mervyn Morris and Gerardus Kemps. He also faces fraud and grevious bodily harm charges.
Prosecutor Ross Martin SC recounted a history of disciplinary actions taken by American medical bodies against Patel dating back to 1984.
The actions included a stayed suspension of his licence to practise and restrictions on his ability to perform certain surgery.
Mr Martin said by 2001 Patel also needed to get second opinions on difficult surgery.
He said Patel had resigned from a major hospital in the American state of Oregon in September, 2001.
Mr Martin said authorties in New York also reviewed Patel's status and he eventually surrendered his licence to perform surgery in New York.
Patel applied for a job in a small town named Harney, Oregon, which had a hospital with just 25 beds. Patel failed to get the job.
Mr Martin then detailed how Patel was put in contact with Queensland Health authorities through a recruiting company.
It was alleged Patel failed to tell the truth about his hisory in the US when gaining the necessary clearance to work in Australia.
In the case of the manslaugher charge involving Mr Phillips, it was alleged Patel had not consulted a speciaist, Patel was restricted in the US on performing that type of operation, the operation was un-necessary and it was badly performed.
Mr Martin said in the second manslaughter charge of Mr Morrs, Patel performed surgery when he was under USA restrictions, there had been an incorrect diagnosis, it was the wrong procedure, and there were mistakes in post operative procedures.
Patel had also performed the wrong operation in the third manslaughter charge involving Mr Keeps, it was again under USA restrictions, and it had been inappropriate to perform the operation in the Bundaberg Hospital.
Mr Martin said one of the two operations on Mr Keeps had been performed in a negligent manner as Patel had not acted to stop internal bleeding.
The court heard Patel had removed the bowel of a patient Ian Volwles when there was no need for the operation.
Mr Martin said Patel had treated Mr Vowles for cancer but a later biopsy showed no signs of cancer.
Patel faces a charge of grevious bodily harm for his operation on Mr Vowles.
Full Report: news.com.au (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25025492-3102,00.html)
SURGEON Jayant Patel was virtually unemployable in the US and lied to gain employment in Australia where he now faces criminal charges.
The Magistrates Court in Brisbane heard Patel had a long history of disciplinary hearings in New York and Oregon before he was recruited as the director of surgery at Bundaberg Base Hospital.
Patel, 58, who worked at the hospital between 2003 and 2005, is facing a committal hearing on 14 charges including the manslaughter of James Phillips, Mervyn Morris and Gerardus Kemps. He also faces fraud and grevious bodily harm charges.
Prosecutor Ross Martin SC recounted a history of disciplinary actions taken by American medical bodies against Patel dating back to 1984.
The actions included a stayed suspension of his licence to practise and restrictions on his ability to perform certain surgery.
Mr Martin said by 2001 Patel also needed to get second opinions on difficult surgery.
He said Patel had resigned from a major hospital in the American state of Oregon in September, 2001.
Mr Martin said authorties in New York also reviewed Patel's status and he eventually surrendered his licence to perform surgery in New York.
Patel applied for a job in a small town named Harney, Oregon, which had a hospital with just 25 beds. Patel failed to get the job.
Mr Martin then detailed how Patel was put in contact with Queensland Health authorities through a recruiting company.
It was alleged Patel failed to tell the truth about his hisory in the US when gaining the necessary clearance to work in Australia.
In the case of the manslaugher charge involving Mr Phillips, it was alleged Patel had not consulted a speciaist, Patel was restricted in the US on performing that type of operation, the operation was un-necessary and it was badly performed.
Mr Martin said in the second manslaughter charge of Mr Morrs, Patel performed surgery when he was under USA restrictions, there had been an incorrect diagnosis, it was the wrong procedure, and there were mistakes in post operative procedures.
Patel had also performed the wrong operation in the third manslaughter charge involving Mr Keeps, it was again under USA restrictions, and it had been inappropriate to perform the operation in the Bundaberg Hospital.
Mr Martin said one of the two operations on Mr Keeps had been performed in a negligent manner as Patel had not acted to stop internal bleeding.
The court heard Patel had removed the bowel of a patient Ian Volwles when there was no need for the operation.
Mr Martin said Patel had treated Mr Vowles for cancer but a later biopsy showed no signs of cancer.
Patel faces a charge of grevious bodily harm for his operation on Mr Vowles.