Queensland Govt. officials 'failed to do checks on 'Dr. Death'

Brisbane, Feb.11 (ANI): Queensland Government officers failed to check a vital piece of information that may have prevented Indian-born Doctor Jayant Patel from being employed in Queensland, a court has been told.

Dr. Patel a.k.a. Dr. Death is facing 14 charges including three of manslaughter relating to his time as director of surgery at the Bundaberg Base Hospital between 2003 and 2005.

Ainslie McMullen was working as a low-level officer with the Health Practitioners Registration Board in early 2003 when Patel's application came across her desk.

The Brisbane Magistrates Court today was told that on Dr Patel's application was a note stating a public order had been made against the 58-year-old doctor in the US.

Under the public order, Dr Patel's practice had been restricted following a number of investigations into allegations of negligence.

The court was told it was information that may have prevented Dr. Patel from being employed at Bundaberg Base Hospital, and possibly anywhere in Queensland.

However, the court was told the document fell through the cracks of the application process when McMullen failed to investigate it and pass on the details to her superiors.

The court was told subsequent senior officers from the Registration Advisory Committee and the Medical Board of Queensland also failed to conduct proper checks on the document.

Giving evidence during the second day of the committal hearing, McMullen said she was surprised she had missed the information. (ANI)