Indian doctor accused of causing death

Melbourne, Aug 20 (UNI) Another Indian-trained doctor has been accused of causing the death of a patient due to negligence even as the state government of Queensland is struggling to recover from damage caused by Dr Jayant Patel.

Mrs Lillian Shaw, a 67-year-old grandmother, died last year near Ipswich, after Indian-trained General Practitioner Dr Jaideep Bali allegedly failed to diagnose a perforated stomach ulcer despite visiting her three times in 36 hours.

Besides failed diagnose, an investigation by the coroner also found Dr Bali had given Mrs Lilian a potentially fatal injection of morphine few hours before she died.

The doctor is also accused of attempt to cover-up his part in the death of the mother-of-seven by refusing for months to admit that he had administered morphine during his last house call.

The Queensland Labor government led by Peter Beattie must be cursing the timing of the coroner's report as elections are due in the state early next month.

Opposition leader Lawrence Springborg has been quick to react alleging that tragedies such as Mrs Shaw's death were ''the Beattie Government's real record on health.'' Mrs Shaw's family and the coalition, have blamed the Beattie Government for its ''share'' in the tragedy, the Courier newspaper reported.

The fact Dr Bali has been refusing that he administered morphine has led to the coroner Matthew McLaughlin concluding that Dr Bali was an unreliable witness.

The coroner is also believed to have ''strongly suspected'' the general practitioner had ''deliberately been untruthful.'' UNI XC AD RN1130