Dr. Death’s claim that dead patient’s bowel was cancerous not true, says pathologist

BRISBANE - A pathologist has told the Brisbane Supreme Court that a section of a bowel removed from a patient by Indian-born surgeon Dr. Jayant Patel failed to reveal any sign of cancer or a reason for his rectal bleeding.

Giving evidence today, Dr. Vasanthamala Varmin said she examined Mervyn John Morris’s sigmoid colon after its removal by Patel at the Bundaberg Base Hospital on May 23, 2003.

She said analysis of the tissue revealed no malignant growths, and no bleeding site.

“If there had been bleeding would you have noticed it?” prosecutor David Meredith asked.

“Yes, yes, we would have,” the Daily Telegraph quoted Dr Varmin, as saying.

Under cross-examination, defence barrister Michael Byrne, QC, asked if the fact the colon had been stored in formalin and transported to Brisbane would have washed away any signs of blood.

Dr. Varmin said it would not have.

The crown is alleging Patel failed to properly investigate the cause of rectal bleeding and that the removal of part of Mr Morris’ colon was “unnecessary”.

Morris, 75, died at Bundaberg Base Hospital on June 14, 2003.

Patel has pleaded not guilty to Mr Morris’ manslaughter, as well as the manslaughter of two other patients, and the grievous bodily harm of another man.

The charges relate to Patel’s time as director of surgery at the Bundaberg Base Hospital between 2003 and 2005. (ANI)