Prosecution presents witnesses against 8216;Dr Death8217;

The prosecution has alleged that the surgery on Mervyn John Morris,who died on June 14,2003 at 75,was unnecessary.

Dietitian Grace Andrews,who appeared in Brisbane Supreme Court,said she was given the job of formulating nutritional plans for Morris,who had become malnourished after two operations by Patel in May 2003,AAP said in a report.

She said on the advice of the patient8217;s doctors,she developed nutritional plans for a clear fluid diet,and then for regular and low sodium nasal tube feeding. However,these methods didn8217;t work and Morris8217; died on June 14.

Andrews told the court Morris could have been treated with intravenal feeding,and that although this treatment was outside her scope of expertise,she would have sought assistance from a senior dietician to formulate a plan if Patel had asked her to do so.

However,she said that this 8220;was never discussed8221; in relation to Morris.

Asked under cross-examination if she had the power to recommend nutritional treatment for patients,Andrews said she did. However,she said the advice she gave was 8220;not necessarily8221; accepted.

8220;The surgical team at the time was not known for consultation or taking advice from other staff,8221; she said.

8220;What do you mean by the surgical team?8221; asked prosecutor David Meredith. 8220;Patel,8221; Andrews replied.

Patel has pleaded not guilty to Morris8217; manslaughter,as well as the manslaughter of two other patients,and the grievous bodily harm of another man.

The court on also heard pathologist Vasanthamala Varmin who had examined Morris8217;s sigmoid colon after it was removed by Patel on May 23,2003.

She said analysis of the tissue revealed no malignant growths,and no bleeding site.

8220;If there had been bleeding would you have noticed it?8221;

Meredith asked. 8220;Yes,yes we would have,8221; Varmin said.

Under cross-examination,defence barrister Michael Byrne,QC,asked if the fact the colon had been stored in formalin and transported to Brisbane would have washed away any signs of blood to which Varmin said it would not have.

The crown has alleged Patel failed to properly investigate the cause of rectal bleeding and that the removal of part of Morris8217; colon was 8220;unnecessary8221;.