Doctor 'endangered patients' lives'

An AUSTRALIAN doctor was yesterday charged with endangering his patients' lives after police alleged he infected nearly 50 women with hepatitis C at an abortion clinic.

James Latham Peters, 61, an anaesthetist at the Melbourne clinic, was charged with 54 counts each of conduct endangering life, negligently causing serious injury and recklessly causing serious injury. The most serious charge carries a maximum jail sentence of 15 years.

Peters was released on bail of AUS$250,000 (about 162,000) after a brief appearance at Melbourne magistrates court.

He was not required to enter pleas to the charges, which relate to 49 patients at the clinic who health officials say contracted the same strain of hepatitis C as Peters between 2008 and 2009.

Hepatitis C can cause serious liver problems, including cirrhosis and cancer. It is spread through the blood.

Police have not released details on how they believe the disease was transmitted. But Bram Alexander, a spokesman for the Victoria State Department of Health, said officials investigated all the infection control procedures at the clinic and did not find any problems with them.

He said: "That's precisely why we referred these matters to the police for further investigation - because our investigation could find no plausible reason as to why the infection took place."

Peters had his registration suspended in February 2010.

Under his bail conditions, Peters must not work in any medical- or health-related field and must not contact staff at a number of medical centres where he previously worked, including the abortion clinic. He was also required to surrender his passport.

Health officials tested more than 4,000 of Peters' patients during their investigation, and found 49 who were infected with a strain of the virus genetically linked to the one he carries.