Sick to Death

They called him ‘Doctor Death’: a surgeon charged with saving lives, but accused of taking them instead.

Dr Jayant Patel ruled over Bundaberg Hospital for two years in the early 2000s, despite being banned from surgical practice in the United States.

This gripping true account is the story that set Gold Walkley Award-winning journalist Hedley Thomas on his path to becoming Australia’s most trusted investigative reporter.

Based on his bestselling book, the Sick to Death podcast explores a dark chapter in Australian healthcare and the bravery of one nurse who refused to stay silent.

Subscribers to The Australian hear new episodes first at sicktodeathpodcast.com. Plus, get exclusive access to photos, videos, timelines, and more at the website.

Last refreshed: January 19th, 2026 at 4:01 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Episode 7: Cover It Up

Defeated by the bureaucracy of public health, veteran ICU nurse Toni Hoffman drives through a storm to blow the whistle on Jayant Patel. Politician Rob Messenger takes up the fight in the Queensland parliament. With the first shots publicly fired, the media starts to take notice. Will it be enough to keep the reckless Dr Jayant Patel out of the operating theatre? Do you know more? Contact Hedley Thomas and the team at sicktodeath@theaustralian.com.au Subscribers hear new episodes of Sick to Deat...

Jan 08, 2026•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 7

Episode 6: The Bloodletting

The list of Jayant Patel’s victims continues to grow. Fifteen‑year‑old Shannon Mobbs arrives after a trail‑bike crash and has his femoral vein tied off, a cancer patient’s healthy bowel is cut, a man with a punctured carotid artery is saved only when a doctor blocks another risky operation, and a vulnerable patient is quietly hidden in ICU to prevent further harm. With the nurses uniting and doctors speaking out, Hoffman decides the only path left is full exposure. Do you know more? Contact Hedl...

Jan 01, 2026•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Episode 5: The Messenger

Unrest at Bundaberg Hospital grows, as staff grapple with the devastating consequences of Dr Jayant Patel’s reckless practices. After yet another tragic patient outcome, Nurse Toni Hoffman is galvanised into action. She decides to do whatever it takes to stop Dr Patel – with or without the hospital administration’s assistance. Will maverick politician Rob Messenger be able to help? Do you know more? Contact Hedley Thomas and the team at sicktodeath@theaustralian.com.au Subscribers hear new episo...

Dec 25, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Episode 4: Doctor’s Germs

Dr Jayant Patel continues to go unchecked at Bundaberg Base Hospital. From botched surgeries and fatal errors to shocking breaches of basic hygiene, the human toll continues to rise. More staff raise their concerns, but hospital administration – focused on budgets and waiting list targets – do not intervene. Do you know more? Contact Hedley Thomas and the team at sicktodeath@theaustralian.com.au Subscribers hear new episodes of Sick to Death first. Listen at sicktodeathpodcast.com , in The Austr...

Dec 22, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Episode 3: Wounded Pride

Falsified patient records, accusations of gross negligence, and a trail of complaints should have ended Dr Jayant Patel’s medical career — but they didn’t. What happened in America, and how did Dr Patel keep getting jobs? Meanwhile, in Bundaberg, there is growing alarm among the staff about the growing rate of post-operative complications. Surgical wounds from operations by Dr Patel are collapsing at a shocking rate. More and more patients are suffering. Do you know more? Contact Hedley Thomas a...

Dec 11, 2025•53 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Episode 1: The Fall

What happens when a family holiday turns into a nightmare? The Neville family’s summer break takes a devastating turn when young Elise suffers a serious injury, exposing the vulnerabilities of emergency care in Queensland. Meanwhile, in Oregon, surgeon Dr Jayant Patel considers his options after a series of failures ends his American medical career. Do you know more? Contact Hedley Thomas and the team at sicktodeath@theaustralian.com.au Subscribers hear new episodes of Sick to Death first. Liste...

Nov 13, 2025•59 min•Season 1Ep. 1

Episode 2: New Beginnings

Dr Jayant Patel, a disgraced surgeon with a shadowy past, secures a new job in Queensland's healthcare system by concealing his history. Soon after starting his tenure at Bundaberg Base Hospital, Dr Patel begins performing high-risk surgeries. Alarmed by a series of poor patient outcomes, local nurse Toni Hoffman starts to ask questions about Dr Patel’s competency. Do you know more? Contact Hedley Thomas and the team at sicktodeath@theaustralian.com.au Subscribers hear new episodes of Sick to De...

Nov 13, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Introducing: Sick to Death

They called him “Doctor Death”. A surgeon charged with saving lives, but accused of taking them instead. Gold Walkley Award-winning journalist and creator of The Teacher's Pet and Bronwyn, Hedley Thomas, revisits the story that set him on the path to becoming Australia’s most trusted investigative reporter. Sick to Death is brought to you by The Australian. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 06, 2025•3 min

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