Deadly Healthcare

Rogue surgeons, overburdened hospitals, medical mismanagement, doctor shortages.

The story of Australia’s own “Dr Death”, Jayant Patel, is symptomatic of a tidal wave heading towards all modern healthcare systems. In this absorbing book, the authors have ploughed through the mass of public inquiry data, interviewing key figures in the affair to reveal in gripping detail how it happened, who was to blame, and how it can be avoided. Drawing on international cases and experiences, they reveal how institutional weaknesses are able to be exploited by individuals with serious personality problems. Hospitals worldwide are facing increasing? pressures from staff shortages and the need to manage financial considerations that impact directly their ability to adequately manage patient care. This is a story relevant and timely for all who are a part of a modern complex healthcare network, from hospital administrators to doctors, nurses, ancillary staff and the patients themselves. The case of Bundaberg Hospital and its infamous “Dr Death” could be happening again right now in your own modern overburdened healthcare system.

Professor James Dunbar (MD, FRCPEdin, FRCGP, FRACGP, FFPHM) is the inaugural Director of the Greater Green Triangle University Department of Rural Health, Flinders and Deakin Universities, Australia. In his former post of Medical Director of Borders Primary Care NHS Trust in Scotland, he won the Golden Phoenix Award – the primary award for improvement in health care in the UK.

Professor Prasuna Reddy (PhD, MAPS) is Chair of Rural Mental Health Flinders University, and Director of Research, Greater Green Triangle University Department of Rural Health. She is a practising health and organisational psychologist and also currently Director of Training for Life! Taking Action on Diabetes a joint initiative of the Victorian Government and Diabetes Australia – Victoria.

Stephen May (BSc Hons) originally trained as a psychologist, but left the profession to establish his own publishing company. He has edited an extensive range of scientific and professional texts as well as writing for newspapers on psychological topics. He is currently President of the Australian Publishers Association.