This website address is http://www.geocities.com/patel_event/

Freedom of Speech

Partnership Between Morris Inquiry Committee, Journalists and Dr Jayant Patel's "Victims"

The "victims" need the media to deliver their propaganda in order to achieve finacial gain that is impossible through normal medicolegal pathway. Journalists want fee-free "top stories" to make money. Of course Mr Morris and journalists know well how to use each other for the best of their own interest. No wonder that we can only read one-sided stories in the Courier-Mail.

Believe it or not, it's happening:

ABC News (Friday, July 15, 2005. 3:00pm (AEST)):

Complaints against Morris inquiry journalists referred to Crime and Misconduct Committee (CMC).

Complaints against journalists covering the Morris inquiry in the south-east Queensland city of Bundaberg have been referred to the Crime and Misconduct Commission.

The inquiry spent the past four weeks in the city, examining malpractice allegations against Dr Jayant Patel, who was head of surgery at Bundaberg Base Hospital between 2003 and early 2005.

In another controversy for the inquiry, complaints have been made against journalists who dined with commission staff in Bundaberg on Wednesday night.

The journalists read out mock awards, including some for patients who had given graphic evidence about their treatment by Dr Patel.

Health Department staff overheard the restaurant banter and complained to the Premier.

Former patient Ian Fleming, who was mentioned in the mock award ceremony, says he is concerned that the incident could trivialise the patients' evidence.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie made a surprise visit to Bundaberg this morning to meet with Mr Fleming.

Mr Fleming says he highly respects the Commissioner Tony Morris and it is important the inquiry continues.

"I would be greatly concerned if the inquiry was derailed or affected," he said.

The Bundaberg Hospital's acting district manager, Monica Seth, says the mock awards ceremony extremely upset some staff who had worked with the patients.

Mr Beattie says he has forwarded 10 statements from Queensland Health staff to the Crime and Misconduct Committee and the head of the inquiry, Tony Morris.

"I just think it was tasteless. It was inappropriate. It was in a public restaurant," Mr Beattie said.

Meanwhile whistleblower nurse Toni Hoffman has weighed into the debate, defending the journalists involved in covering the Morris inquiry.