India-born American doctor Jayant Patel, who is facing accusations of botching operations and causing death of three patients, failed to inform an Australian hospital about surgical restrictions placed on him in the US due to repeated negligence.
During the ongoing trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court, Bundaberg Base Hospital's senior anaesthetist Dr Martin Carter said Patel told him he was able to competently perform an oesophagectomy on James Edward Phillips in May 2003.
"In terms of this specific case (Dr Patel) said he was capable of performing it," Carter said, adding "he said he'd done them in the US and I had no reason to disbelieve him".
However, Carter said he had no idea Patel had been banned from performing oesohagectomies and some abdominal operations in the US without seeking a second opinion, according to AAP report.
When prosecutor asked if 60-year-old Patel had informed him anything about his disciplinary history in Oregon, Carter said "No".
When asked did he know anything about that, Carter again refused.
Earlier, the court was told that Patel signed an order in August 2000 that acknowledged he "had made surgical errors" that equated to "gross negligence" while he was working in the US.
Patel is accused of causing the deaths of three Queensland patients -- including Phillips -- and permanently injuring another when he performed surgeries while employed as director of surgery at the Bundaberg Base Hospital between 2003 and 2005.
He, however, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
