The doctor who first raised concerns about mushroom killer Erin Patterson has been sanctioned by Australia’s medical regulator.
Dr Christopher Webster became widely known after his triple zero call, alerting police about Patterson, was released during her trial.
Following her conviction for the murders of Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, and the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, Dr Webster spoke to several media outlets, where he described Patterson as “evil” and claimed he knew she was guilty when he first met her.
Now, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has placed conditions on his medical registration.
While the exact reasons for the decision have not been revealed, the regulator has ordered Dr Webster to undergo one-on-one training in several key areas, including professionalism and ethics, communication, and patient confidentiality.
He will also be mentored on topics such as the “appropriate use and disclosure of private and confidential information” and “responding to requests” for such information.
The triple zero call Dr Webster made informing police of Patterson, was made public by the courts and quickly picked up by media outlets in Australia and overseas.
“I have a concern about a patient who presented here earlier, but has left the building and is potentially exposed to a fatal toxin from mushroom poisoning,” Dr Webster told the call operator at the time.
“There were five people who ate a meal on Saturday,” he explained.
“Two of them are in intensive care at Dandenong Hospital. Two have been transferred to Dandenong Hospital. And Erin presented this morning with symptoms of poisoning…
“I was managing the other critically unwell patients, so I had a brief chat with her about where the mushrooms were obtained,” he continued.
“After that, while I was attending the other patients, the nurse informed me she had discharged herself against medical advice.”
Image: Nine
