Dr Death’s shocking disciplinary record overshadowed by glowing references

The publicly accessible record of disciplinary action against Dr Jayant Patel should have prevented him from practising in Australia. Instead, his champions’ words set him on a deadly path.

Jayant Patel. Picture: Jono Searle

Disgraced surgeon Jayant Patel fraudulently relied upon glowing references given by his superiors during a disciplinary investigation to continue working in the US.

Doctors James Williams, Marguerite Dinsky, William Farlow and Raymond Hinshaw wrote the character references in the early 1980s, when the Indian-born Patel was a resident doctor and being investigated by the New York State Board for Professional Medical Conduct for fabricating medical records without personally assessing patients.

He was also accused of gross negligence and incompetence by nurses and doctors who worked alongside him at the shuttered Genesee Hospital in Rochester, New York, and harassed and ­abused colleagues and patients who complained at his conduct.

This formative moment in Patel’s notorious career is explored in a new episode of The Australian’s new investigative podcast series Sick to Death, based on the best-selling book by national chief correspondent Hedley Thomas.

Despite the weight of the evidence against him, the references were so compelling to investigators that Patel was fined and allowed to continue practicing medicine in a probationary capacity.

Patel would go on to work at one of America’s largest healthcare organisations before migrating to Australia in the early 2000s.

In 2005, an inquiry found 13 patients at Bundaberg Base Hospital – where he was director of surgery – died as a result of his negligence; dozens of others suffered debilitating injuries, disabilities, and complications.

Do you know more? Contact Hedley Thomas and the team at [e-mail]

Subscribers hear new episodes of Sick to Death first. Listen to Episode 3 at sicktodeathpodcast.com, in The Australian’s app or search for “Sick to Death” on Apple Podcasts to connect your subscription.