and this man is still open for business.


Surgeon to stand trial over woman's death

  A prominent Queensland surgeon has been ordered to stand trial over the "traumatic" death of a cancer patient following a radical gynaecological operation.

Mother-of-two Nardia Annette Cvitic, 30, went under the knife for a hysterectomy to remove cervical cancer at Brisbane's Mater Hospital on February 11, 2002.

She  died 11 days later of organ failure following significant blood loss caused when an incorrectly inserted drainage tube punctured a vein in her groin.

An inquest yesterday found her doctor, former University of Queensland professor Bruce Ward, had failed to properly diagnose and treat Mrs Cvitic when she collapsed from internal bleeding  three days after her initial operation, and had wrongly prescribed a blood-thinning agent, despite the slightly built woman having already lost half her body's blood supply.

The operating theatre at the time of the incident was likened to a scene from the Granville train disaster in NSW in the 1970s.

Dr Ward was yesterday charged with Mrs Cvitic's manslaughter after Deputy State Coroner Christine Clements found there was enough evidence to prove he had acted unlawfully.

Outside court, Dr Ward's barrister, David Tait SC, said his client was "devastated" by the decision and  would fight the allegations.

"Over 20 years he has operated on thousands of Queensland women and has dedicated his life to his medical work," Mr Tait said.

"Dr Ward is adamant he is not guilty of any offence.
"It's a disappointing end to a very sad occurrence."

But in her findings, Ms Clements said the inquest had raised serious questions about Dr Ward's judgement, his post-operative care and delays in identifying the cause of Mrs Cvitic's internal bleeding.

She said people authorised to perform surgery on others had a duty to ensure they had "reasonable skill and reasonable care."

"I am satisfied that a properly instructed jury could make a finding of guilt," Ms Clements said.

The inquest heard Mrs Cvitic had complained of severe abdominal pain three days after her hysterectomy and collapsed  at the  hospital.

Dr Ward diagnosed her as suffering from  pulmonary embolus - or a blockage of the artery - against the advice of other doctors, and she was operated on again.

He also prescribed twice the usual dose of a blood-thinning agent to Mrs Cvitic, who continued to bleed until a second surgeon noticed the  torn vein in her groin.

A third doctor arrived on the scene to find "blood everywhere", including on the drapes, and Mrs Cvitic's body packed with absorbent sponges. Numerous blood transfusions later caused her organs to fail.

Mrs Cvitic's elder sister Helen Liversidge described the incident as "horrific".

"I don't know how I feel at the moment, it's all pretty shocking," Ms Liversidge said of the Coroner's decision to charge Dr Ward.

"I came here today to see justice done and hopefully it will be."

Mrs Cvitic, described by family as a vivacious and fun-loving woman, left behind two sons, now aged 11 and 16.

Dr Ward was released on bail until his Supreme Court trial, to be heard at a date to be fixed.