An Australian doctor who treated triple murderer Erin Patterson and her victims after the deadly mushroom lunch has been penalised by the health regulator for speaking out about the case. Dr Christopher Webster, a GP in Leongatha, Victoria, was a witness in Patterson's trial earlier this year.
After Patterson was found guilty of murdering three relatives and attempting to murder a fourth, Webster gave several media interviews, including one in which he called her a 'crazy bitch'. On Wednesday, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) placed conditions on his registration.
Webster's conditions include completing eight hours of one-on-one education on professionalism, ethics, communication, privacy, and confidentiality. He must also undergo mentoring for a minimum of five hours per month for a year.
Webster was the first to contact police after the July 2023 lunch, concerned when Patterson discharged herself from hospital against medical advice. He told the court she left within five minutes of arriving, despite his warnings about potential death cap mushroom poisoning.
The lunch guests, Don and Gail Patterson, and Ian and Heather Wilkinson, were gravely ill. Don, Gail, and Heather died within a week; Ian was discharged months later but has not fully recovered. Patterson was sentenced to life with a non-parole period of 33 years.
