Jayant Patel Trial: Patient Mervyn Morris received 24/7 care
A patient allegedly killed by Dr Jayant Patel received round-the-clock continuous care following an operation at the Bundaberg Base hospital, a court has heard.
Three weeks after Dr Patel's removal of the patient's bowel on May 23, 2003, Mervyn Morris, 75, died on June 14 2003.
Dr Patel, 59, has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter charges of patients, Morris, Gerardus Kemps and James Phillips, and also not guilty to the charges of causing grievous bodily injury of patient Ian Vowles.
Former Bundaberg Base Hospital doctor, Nigel Chikolwa gave evidence about Morris' care, on the fourth day of the trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court.
He said 19 days following the operation, on June 13, Morris was not a very well man.
I wouldn't say he was very well, said Dr Chikolwa.
He was septic ... he was anaemic, this was day 19 post-operation. On that day when Dr Chikolwa examined Morris, the patient had a urinary tract infection, had fluid in his lungs and belly, was dehydrated and was on oxygen.
The patient died the next day. The prosecution has alleged that the surgery performed by Dr Patel on Morris was the wrong thing to do.
He was the wrong doctor for this operation, (Morris) was the wrong patient, an elderly man, with co-morbidities, prosecutor Ross Martin SC told the court on Monday.
Dr Chikolwa was asked whether it was true Morris had received 24/7 care at the hospital from a team of professional doctors and nurses, under cross-examination from Michael Byrne QC.
Yes it is, Dr Chikolwa said. That was the standard (at Bundaberg Base Hospital).
There was a continuity of care for all patients at the hospital, said Dr Chikolwa who now works in Katherine in the Northern Territory.
According to him, the hospital was staffed by very competent and experienced nurses, who could contact doctors at any time of the day or night.
Whether it was medical or obstetrics, there was always a consultant on call.
On June 13, after assessment of the patient, Mervyn Morris, he decided there was no need for the patient to be moved to the hospital's five-bed intensive care unit. The trial continues.