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Patel might have operated on 2000 patients, victims claim

Jason Gregory, The Courier-Mail, 25 April 2005

Bundaberg doctor Jayant Patel might have operated on up to 2000 patients, a victims' support group believes.

That's twice as many as originally estimated.

It emerged yesterday that while Dr Patel - dubbed Dr Death for his shocking record of post-surgical complications - was originally believed to have carried out 900-1000 operations during his time at Bundaberg Base Hospital, many more had probably been carried out.

When he worked in emergency, Dr Patel, as the director of surgery, was often the first person to operate on patients.

Those patients were subsequently transferred to the care of other doctors and were then regarded as their patients.

He would also have carried out operations for other doctors who were on leave or whose caseloads were too heavy.

Victims support group organiser Ian Fleming predicted the number of former hospital patients who had some surgical involvement with Dr Patel could "grow substantially" to around 2000.

This was based on the number of people who had approached the group.

"At the moment there is no clear number on those affected," Mr Fleming said.

A comprehensive audit of Bundaberg Hospital's operating theatre records will be performed by a four-person medical review team appointed by Health Minister Gordon Nuttall to examine all patient files and outcomes.

The records would note Dr Patel's involvement in all operations he performed on other doctors' patients and acute patients who were rushed into emergency but who were later officially recognised as under the care of other doctors.

The operating books are a legal document and must include the time of surgery, the operating surgeon's name, the name of any other doctor and the anaesthetist.

Australian Medical Association Queensland president David Molloy said the theatre books would reveal how many operations Dr Patel, "who was keen on doing as much surgery as he could," performed.

"It does not matter in a nominal sense who owned the patient. The operating books must be accurately kept as a matter of law."

There are now about 200 in the support group and Queensland Health has written to half of Dr Patel's patients. More than 100 had signed up with law firm Carter Capner.