http://www.news-mail.com.au/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3637486&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=

From The Bundaberg and Region News-Mail:

No checks on surgeon: Leck admits to inquiry

27.05.2005

THE manager of Bundaberg Base Hospital has told an inquiry he never checked Dr Jayant Patel’s qualifications and allowed him to flee the country only a day after he resigned in disgrace.

Bundaberg district health manager Peter Leck, who has stood aside from his position, came under heavy questioning at the Morris inquiry yesterday.

He admitted he never checked whether the doctor was registered to work as a surgeon in Australia.

Mr Leck said he was unaware the Indian-trained doctor was not qualified to practise as a surgeon in Australia.

Mr Leck said he did not and could not remember looking at documents relating to Dr Patel’s clearance to work as a surgeon.

“My understanding is he was endorsed by the medical board to practise as a surgeon,’’ he said.

Mr Morris replied: “You’re just far too busy are you to trouble yourself with whether or not that people being held out as surgeons at your hospital are actually qualified?’’
“Well it’s not my role,’’ Mr Leck said, apportioning the responsibility to the director of medical services Dr Darren Keating.
Mr Leck admitted he did look at the Dr Patel’s contract and signed the approval on the basis “that was what was normal’’.

“Obviously in hindsight that’s not something that I would have chosen to do now, but at the time I didn’t see it as significant,’’ he said.
A critical Mr Morris responded: “Despite the fact there was controversy going on, the man was being called Dr Death in the media, you just didn’t think it was important to make sure you got it right?’’

Mr Leck also told the court an investigation into the allegations of Dr Patel’s incompetence did not begin until February this year, despite being aware of concerns surrounding the surgeon since last October.

Dr Peter Miach, the hospital’s director of medicine, told the inquiry he continually hit a bureaucratic brick wall when expressing concerns about Dr Patel, at one point being told by Dr Keating that the hospital was a “business’’.

Dr Keating, who offered Dr Patel another four years employment at the hospital despite the concerns, told the hearing he was concerned about the claims but also about the surgeon leaving.

The hearing continues.

[Of course, in these articles, "AMA" is Australian Medical Association]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200505/s1381382.htm

Workload pushed Aust surgeons out of Bundaberg, inquiry hears

The Morris inquiry has been told management at the Bundaberg Base Hospital drove two Australian-trained surgeons out of the town, prior to overseas-trained doctor Jayant Patel taking up the position.

The inquiry was hearing evidence
from the state president of the Australian Medical Association.
David Molloy told the commission of inquiry, which is investigating deaths and medical negligence, that both surgeons left the hospital because of the workload.

The previous directors of surgery were often left as the only surgeon in Bundaberg to service a population of around 78,000 people.

Dr Molloy alleged that administrators were reluctant to provide locums and one of the surgeons felt guilty about taking holidays.

The AMA state president blamed the hospital's bureaucracy who he says did not realise the importance of having a surgeon.

One of the surgeons now works in Logan, the other in Townsville.
Dr Molloy also defended overseas-trained doctors, who he says often do not understand the Queensland health system and are sometimes employed in jobs beyond their experience.

[It was TWELVE MONTHS before anyone there looked at the Oregon Board's Web site. The doc not only got in there, he was made chief of surgery!?!? He had a "glowing reference" from the QUEENSLAND authorities !?!?]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Dr-Death-references-not-checked-inquiry/2005/05/30/1117305550640.html?oneclick=true

Dr Death references not checked: inquiry
May 30, 2005 - 3:59PM

The registration board that assessed rogue surgeon Jayant Patel did not check his references and overlooked a missing certificate of good standing, a health inquiry has been told.

Office of Health Practitioner Registration Boards deputy registrar Michael Demy-Geroe told a commission of inquiry disciplinary action against the Indian-trained doctor had been overlooked by staff processing his application.
The board arranges registration of applicants and offers support services to the Medical Board of Queensland, among other health boards, on a contractual agreement.
The inquiry was told Dr Patel's application to work as a senior medical officer at Bundaberg Base Hospital was submitted by Sydney recruiting agency Wavelength Consulting.

But the agency failed to detect that the surgeon later dubbed Dr Death, and linked to the deaths of at least 87 people at the southeast Queensland hospital, had been found guilty of "gross negligence" in the United States and forced to surrender his licence.

Dr Patel lied on his application about never being subject to any disciplinary action or the cancellation or suspension of his licence.

Mr Demy-Geroe said a certificate of good standing was not included in Dr Patel's application, and a former worker failed to pick up the omission despite such documents forming part of an applicant's checklist.

He also revealed the board never checked the history of applicants with past employers, instead relying on a certificate of good standing.
"It could be (checked) if an issue arises ... but it's certainly not a matter of course," he said.
Contact had also never been made with two doctors listed as referees for Dr Patel.

"These references are nominated in case we need to contact them. It's certainly not routinely done," Mr Demy-Geroe said.

The court was told Dr Patel was promoted to director of surgery at Bundaberg hospital despite never being registered as a surgeon in Australia.

Mr Demy-Geroe said the board did not expect or know Dr Patel had been promoted and it "certainly would have been a concern" if it was aware of the change.

It only became aware about 12 months later when it was renewing his registration, he said.
Mr Demy-Geroe said he later uncovered Dr Patel's chequered history when he reviewed his file and discovered a licence certificate from the State of Oregon Board of Medical Examiners that contained the notation: "Standing: Public Order on File. See attached."

He said there was no attachment but a search of the internet revealed Dr Patel's licence had been revoked.
Meanwhile, Opposition leader Lawrence Springborg has asked the Queensland government to repudiate on its website a glowing reference given to Dr Patel by his boss shortly before Dr Patel fled Australia at Easter.

If you are interested, all transcripts and exhibits are posted on a website: The Bundaberg Hospital Enquiry...very interesting reading. It is frightening that he was permitted to keep working and not stopped sooner.