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Sick to death Podcast

They called him ‘Doctor Death’: a surgeon charged with saving lives, but accused of taking them instead.
Dr Jayant Patel ruled over Bundaberg Hospital for two years in the early 2000s, despite being banned from surgical practice in the United States.
This gripping true account is the story that set Gold Walkley Award-winning journalist Hedley Thomas on his path to becoming Australia’s most trusted investigative reporter.
Based on his bestselling book, the Sick to Death podcast explores a dark chapter in Australian healthcare and the bravery of one nurse who refused to stay silent.
Coming November 14. Subscribers to The Australian hear new episodes first. Plus, get exclusive access to photos, videos, timelines, and more.

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Latest Episodes

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Inside the Jayant Patel story | Whistleblower Toni Hoffman with Hedley Thomas

Inside the Jayant Patel story | Whistleblower Toni Hoffman with Hedley Thomas

Too awful to be true | Sick To Death podcast

Too awful to be true | Sick To Death podcast

I don't respond to silly criticisms | Jayant Patel

PREMIUMNews

I don’t respond to silly criticisms | Jayant Patel

How a simple search exposed Australia’s doctor death

How a simple search exposed Australia’s doctor death

Featured Stories

$Copy pics of Elise Neville, Elise whose life support was turned off, and she died 5.45pm Jan 09 2002 was 10yrs old. Elise had fallen out of her bunk bed while on holiday at Caloundra about 1.50am on Jan 07, the fall fractured her skull causing internal bleeding which was not picked up at the Hospital, she went back to the holiday unit with her /parents, worsened a few hours later and was subsequently hospitalised but too late to save her.$

sick to deathNation

Little comfort in health system overhaul after loss of Elise

Retired doctor Gerard Neville still bears the burden of a father haunted by a terrible fate that ended the life of his 10-year-old daughter and forever changed his hitherto perfect young family.

Sick to Death podcast. Rob Messenger - outside Bundaberg Hospital in Queensland. . PIC: Ryan Osland

SICK TO DEATHNation

Queensland Health’s ‘culture of fear’ before Dr Death scandal

Former MP Rob Messenger has revealed he faced intimidation from Queensland Health bosses even before nurse Toni Hoffman approached him about Dr Death.

Bundaberg, June 21, 2005. Tes Bramich (centre) with a photograph of her deceased husband Des Bramich, who was a former patient of Dr Jayent Patel, and her daughter 10yo Maria (left) and step son 16yo Luke, at their motel room today. The family are attending the Bundaberg Hospital Commission of Inquiry into rogue surgeon Dr Jayant Patel, dubbed 'Dr Death'. Dr Patel, is implicated in the deaths of 87 Australian patients, including Des Bramich. (AAP Image/Tony Phillips) NO ARCHIVING

SICK TO DEATHNation

Catalyst for Dr Death’s undoing

The killer surgeon first declared Bramich wasn’t ‘sick enough’ to be transferred to a bigger hospital – then declared he was too ill to be moved when help arrived.

Geoff Davies, left, and Jayant Patel. Picture: Clint Brewer

SICK TO DEATHNation

Patel inquiry judge to politicians: tell the truth on regional hospitals

Politicians lack courage to admit to voters regional hospitals can’t perform all surgeries, says the retired judge whose inquiry found 13 patients died under the care of the surgery director known as Dr Death.

exclusiveNation

Jayant Patel leaving the Brisbane Supreme court after a hung jury. Pic Jono Searle.

Dr Death’s early disciplinary record revealed

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.

SICK TO DEATHNation

Sick to Death podcast. Rob Messenger and nurse Toni Hoffman in Bundaberg, Queensland.. PIC: Ryan Osland

Toll of blowing the whistle on Dr Death

Whistleblower Toni Hoffman says the decision to speak up about the conduct of ‘Dr Death’ Jayant Patel was the right thing to do — but it came at a grave personal cost.

SICK TO DEATHNation

Dr Jayant Patel seen getting back from his morning walk at 7.10am, Mr Patel left his home at around 9.30am in his White Lexus RX L and drove to a doctors appointment at Kaiser Permanente Tanasbourne Dental Office for 9.50am and left at 10.30am, Mr Patel run some errands at Nordstrom Rack before heading back home around 11.15am in Portland. PIC: Clint Brewer Photography

‘Open the door too fast and risk repeat of another rogue surgeon’

Medical experts warn Australia’s new fast-track system for overseas doctor registration could create gaps in safety checks, drawing parallels to the infamous Jayant Patel scandal.

Sarah Elks and Matthew Condon

commentaryCommentary

Sick to Death podcast. Hedley Thomas at Bundaberg Hospital in Queensland. . PIC: Ryan Osland

Why I’m revisiting the chilling tale of Jayant Patel after 20 years

The unvarnished stories of Patel and the public servants in the Queensland Health System are remarkable. Two decades on, many of the factors that led to this disaster are still with us.

LISTENNation

Hedley Thomas returns with a gripping new podcast investigation

Hedley Thomas returns with a gripping new podcast investigation

Based on the best-selling book published in 2007, Sick to Death revisits the investigation that set Hedley Thomas on the path to becoming Australia’s most trusted investigative reporter.

SICK TO DEATHNation

Killer surgeon Jayant Patel, left, out for a morning walk from his home, bottom right, in Portland, Oregon; Patel with his wife Kishoree outside the Supreme Court in Brisbane in 2010. Picture: Clint Brewer, AAP

‘Completely forgot about it’: Dr Death on Bundaberg disaster, 20 years on

While his victims still bear the physical and emotional scars, killer surgeon Jayant ‘Dr Death’ Patel is living the good life, far away from the medical catastrophe left in his wake.

Sarah Elks, Ellie Dudley and Matthew Condon

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/topics/sick-to-death-podcast