The doctor who played a key role in the prosecution of Erin Patterson, convicted of murdering her former in-laws and their sister with poisoned beef Wellington, has spoken out about the profound personal and professional impact of the case. Dr. Chris Webster described a year of significant distress and career disruption following his involvement in the trial.
Patterson was found guilty of the murders of Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson. Dr. Webster, who treated the victims and alerted authorities, detailed his experiences in an interview with The Trial Australia podcast.
He revealed that a phone call from Ian Wilkinson, Heather's husband and the sole survivor of the meal, on the second anniversary of their hospitalisation deeply affected him. "I was in the fetal position, bawling my eyes out for 15 minutes after that. But it was a rewarding phone call to receive," Dr. Webster recounted.
Following his public statements and media interviews after Patterson's conviction, Dr. Webster alleged he became the target of online criticism and complaints to the Australian Health Professionals Regulation Agency (AHPRA). These complaints led to conditions being imposed on his medical practice, including restrictions on supervising trainee general practitioners.
"As a result of those conditions, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners stripped me of my right to supervise trainee general practitioners. And that set in motion the collapse of the business. Now I am unemployed and unable to serve the community of Leongatha as a general practitioner," he stated.
Dr. Webster vehemently denied accusations that his clinic's closure led to patient records being withheld. He stated that an offer was made to transfer the server containing all patient records to the new clinic without charge, but this offer was rejected. He described the servers as remaining in secure storage.
The doctor described the situation as a "witchhunt" by the medical authority, suggesting AHPRA did not consider the broader implications of its actions. He noted that the closure of his large clinic, which served a significant portion of the local population, has left a void in healthcare access for the community.
Dr. Webster acknowledged the significant mental toll the ordeal has taken, stating he sees a psychologist regularly. He admitted to a degree of stubbornness and suggested that while there might have been ways to continue practicing medicine, he felt compromising his principles was not an option. "I don't think that being a doctor is what defines me. The journey of life is myriad experiences, bad and good, highs and lows, happy and sad. What's happened to me has affected me, but it hasn't destroyed me," he said.
AHPRA issued a statement indicating that it is restricted by law from commenting on individual practitioners or matters beyond publicly available information. Leongatha Health was also contacted for comment.