Qld: Oppn wants former minister to front inquiry

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2005
Qld: Oppn wants former minister to front inquiry

Queensland's Opposition wants former health minister WENDY EDMOND to appear before
the Dr Death inquiry over an alleged cover-up involving an overseas-trained doctor.

The inquiry concerns the Indian-trained Dr JAYANT PATEL, who's been linked to at least
90 deaths in Bundaberg base Hospital before leaving Australia earlier this year.

It was told during hearings in Townsville yesterday that a Russian refugee with fake
qualifications treated hundreds of patients as a psychiatrist at Townsville Hospital.

The hospital's executive director of medical services Dr ANDREW JOHNSON said he discovered
Dr VINCENT BERG's qualifications were false in late 2002.

This was almost two years after the man left the hospital amid concerns about his competence.

Dr JOHNSON said he sent briefings to then health minister Ms EDMOND And general manager
of health services Dr STEVE BUCKLAND, but was warned by them to keep quiet.

State Opposition leader LAWRENCE SPRINGBORG has called for Ms EDMOND to tell the inquiry
about why the facts were publicly revealed only yesterday.

Ms EDMOND quit as health minister in 2003 and left politics last year.

AAP RTV jvb/sc/sco

KEYWORD: DOCTOR EDMOND (BRISBANE)

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