Nurse says Patel called Bundaberg Hospital's ICU 'third world'

Brisbane (Australia), May 11 (ANI): The Supreme Court in Brisbane has been told that Indian-origin surgeon Dr. Jayant Patel was reluctant to transfer his patients to Brisbane despite describing Queensland's Bundaberg Base Hospital's intensive care unit as a "third world country".

According to The Age, nurse Karen Stumer told the court that on a number of occasions in 2004 she had overheard Dr Patel being critical of the intensive care unit (ICU) at the regional facility.

"A couple of times he said that the Bundaberg ICU was a third world country," Stumer said.

Dr Patel, 60, has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges.

The charges relate to his time as director of surgery at the hospital between 2003 and 2005.

The trial continues. (ANI)