Cancellation of Indian-origin doctor’s practice demanded

Australian authorities have demanded that the practice of an Indian-origin surgeon facing disciplinary action be cancelled in view of his “unprofessional conduct”, a media report said on Monday.

The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Monday resumed hearing into disciplinary action against former Bundaberg Hospital surgeon Jayant Patel, who was convicted and jailed in 2010 on three counts of manslaughter and grievous bodily harm of a fourth patient, The Courier Mail reported.

The Medical Board of Australia, which is seeking action against the Indian-origin doctor who served time in jail but won a high court challenge against his conviction and was released from jail in 2012, has asked the tribunal that Patel never be registered as an Australian medical practitioner.

“The conduct of Dr. Patel was dishonest, it lacked integrity” and betrayed his obligation to be trusted by vulnerable patients whose lives depended on him, counsel for the medical board Ian Freckelton was quoted as saying.

Freckelton urged the tribunal to ensure that “he should not be allowed to return to such an honourable profession” because he did not have the attributes to do so.

The Board is relying on nine grounds to prove Patel engaged in unsatisfactory professional conduct, the report said.

Freckelton said that Patel performed complicated surgeries he should not have undertaken or he was not competent to perform.

The Board alleged that the surgeon failed to disclose in his application for registration to work as a surgeon in Queensland the previous restrictions on his practice in Oregon in the US, where he worked before coming to Australia.

Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren said the tribunal would deliver its decision on Friday.