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Jayant Patel facing life in jail over patients' deaths
JAYANT Patel was behind bars last night after a jury convicted him of the manslaughter of three patients and causing grievous bodily harm to a fourth.
The verdict brought to a climax the patient abuse scandal that rocked the Queensland health system.
The Indian-trained doctor showed no emotion when the six-man, six-woman jury panel delivered its bombshell verdict at 6.15pm (AEST) last night, after 14 weeks of evidence, more than 75 witnesses and nearly 50 hours of deliberations over six days.
Patel's wife, Kishoree, wept silently as her husband was led into the cells, before the packed courtroom.
Trial judge John Byrne denied bail to the 60-year-old former director of surgery at Bundaberg Base Hospital.
Patel had pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of Mervyn Morris, 75, Gerry Kemps, 77, and James Phillips, 46. He also pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to a fourth patient, Ian Vowles, 63.
Asked by Justice Byrne's associate whether he had anything to say after the verdict was delivered, Patel answered: "No, your honour."
Last night's unanimous guilty verdicts sparked an outpouring of emotion in both Brisbane and Bundaberg, where the surgeon's patients and the families of his victims had gathered.
Judy Kemps - wife of Gerry Kemps - was tearful and relieved.
"My only concern has been that he will go somewhere else and do the same thing, and I didn't want anyone else going through what we went through," Ms Kemps said outside the Queensland Supreme Court in Brisbane.
"I feel so relieved it's all over. I'm ready to start my life again."
Mr Vowles, who was the only former patient to give evidence in the trial, was overjoyed at the guilty verdict.
Dr Patel removed his bowel, declaring it "didn't like" his body and he needed to "whip it out", despite tests showing it was non-cancerous.
In Bundaberg last night, Mr Vowles said he was keen to get on with his life after years of stress.
"People mightn't think it has been (affecting me) but it's kind of on your mind all the time, dragging you down," he said.
Dr Patel's sentencing has been adjourned until tomorrow. Manslaughter carries a maximum jail sentence of life, and grievous bodily harm up to 14 years' jail.
During the trial, the surgeon was accused of possessing a "toxic ego", misdiagnosing patients and rushing into unnecessary, complex surgery on patients too frail to handle the operations.
All four of the patients consented to the operations.
Phillips died on May 21, 2003, two days after Dr Patel performed an oesophagectomy on him.
Phillips was a frail, sick man suffering from oesophageal cancer and was also an end-stage renal patient. The Crown argued Patel should never have performed such a complex and dangerous operation on Phillips.
Patel removed part of the colon of Morris on May 23, 2003, to treat rectal bleeding. The prosecution argued that Patel misdiagnosed Morris, and the operation did not treat the rectal bleeding. Morris died on June 14, 2003, from respiratory failure, after continued bleeding and poor nutrition.
Patel removed Mr Vowles's large bowel on October 4, 2004, despite biopsies on removed polyps showing he was cancer-free. He was left impotent and needing a permanent ileostomy bag. The prosecution said the operation was unnecessary because Mr Vowles did not have cancer.
Kemps died on December 21, 2004, after Patel performed an oesophagectomy on him the day before. After the oesophagectomy, Kemps continued to bleed, but Patel did not re-operate until hours later. He could not find the source of the bleeding and Kemps bled to death. The prosecution argued Patel should not have performed the operation in the first place, and that he should have re-opened Kemps immediately.
Patel's legal battle will not end with last night's guilty verdicts, and the appeal his lawyers flagged. The former surgeon faces another Supreme Court trial on charges of grievous bodily harm and fraud, but a date has not yet been set.
Patel has been committed to stand trial on eight fraud charges.
He is accused of dishonestly gaining employment and a salary at the Bundaberg Base Hospital and dishonestly gaining registration as a doctor in Queensland.
Patel is also facing a grievous bodily harm charge, relating to his treatment of Darcy Russell Blight.
Additional reporting: Rosanne Barrett, Naomi Lim
JAYANT Patel was behind bars last night after a jury convicted him of the manslaughter of three patients and causing grievous bodily harm to a fourth.
The verdict brought to a climax the patient abuse scandal that rocked the Queensland health system.
The Indian-trained doctor showed no emotion when the six-man, six-woman jury panel delivered its bombshell verdict at 6.15pm (AEST) last night, after 14 weeks of evidence, more than 75 witnesses and nearly 50 hours of deliberations over six days.
Patel's wife, Kishoree, wept silently as her husband was led into the cells, before the packed courtroom.
Trial judge John Byrne denied bail to the 60-year-old former director of surgery at Bundaberg Base Hospital.
Patel had pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of Mervyn Morris, 75, Gerry Kemps, 77, and James Phillips, 46. He also pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to a fourth patient, Ian Vowles, 63.
Asked by Justice Byrne's associate whether he had anything to say after the verdict was delivered, Patel answered: "No, your honour."
Last night's unanimous guilty verdicts sparked an outpouring of emotion in both Brisbane and Bundaberg, where the surgeon's patients and the families of his victims had gathered.
Judy Kemps - wife of Gerry Kemps - was tearful and relieved.
"My only concern has been that he will go somewhere else and do the same thing, and I didn't want anyone else going through what we went through," Ms Kemps said outside the Queensland Supreme Court in Brisbane.
"I feel so relieved it's all over. I'm ready to start my life again."
Mr Vowles, who was the only former patient to give evidence in the trial, was overjoyed at the guilty verdict.
Dr Patel removed his bowel, declaring it "didn't like" his body and he needed to "whip it out", despite tests showing it was non-cancerous.
In Bundaberg last night, Mr Vowles said he was keen to get on with his life after years of stress.
"People mightn't think it has been (affecting me) but it's kind of on your mind all the time, dragging you down," he said.
Dr Patel's sentencing has been adjourned until tomorrow. Manslaughter carries a maximum jail sentence of life, and grievous bodily harm up to 14 years' jail.
During the trial, the surgeon was accused of possessing a "toxic ego", misdiagnosing patients and rushing into unnecessary, complex surgery on patients too frail to handle the operations.
All four of the patients consented to the operations.
Phillips died on May 21, 2003, two days after Dr Patel performed an oesophagectomy on him.
Phillips was a frail, sick man suffering from oesophageal cancer and was also an end-stage renal patient. The Crown argued Patel should never have performed such a complex and dangerous operation on Phillips.
Patel removed part of the colon of Morris on May 23, 2003, to treat rectal bleeding. The prosecution argued that Patel misdiagnosed Morris, and the operation did not treat the rectal bleeding. Morris died on June 14, 2003, from respiratory failure, after continued bleeding and poor nutrition.
Patel removed Mr Vowles's large bowel on October 4, 2004, despite biopsies on removed polyps showing he was cancer-free. He was left impotent and needing a permanent ileostomy bag. The prosecution said the operation was unnecessary because Mr Vowles did not have cancer.
Kemps died on December 21, 2004, after Patel performed an oesophagectomy on him the day before. After the oesophagectomy, Kemps continued to bleed, but Patel did not re-operate until hours later. He could not find the source of the bleeding and Kemps bled to death. The prosecution argued Patel should not have performed the operation in the first place, and that he should have re-opened Kemps immediately.
Patel's legal battle will not end with last night's guilty verdicts, and the appeal his lawyers flagged. The former surgeon faces another Supreme Court trial on charges of grievous bodily harm and fraud, but a date has not yet been set.
Patel has been committed to stand trial on eight fraud charges.
He is accused of dishonestly gaining employment and a salary at the Bundaberg Base Hospital and dishonestly gaining registration as a doctor in Queensland.
Patel is also facing a grievous bodily harm charge, relating to his treatment of Darcy Russell Blight.
Additional reporting: Rosanne Barrett, Naomi Lim
