History builds daily. We started tracking this show on the True Crime, Australia chart recently, so the trend line appears after a second day of data.

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Date	Combined Rank	Apple Podcasts	Pocket Casts	Castbox
Oct 7	#36	#21	#21	#23

About the show

They called him ‘Doctor Death’: a surgeon charged with saving lives, but accused of taking them instead. Dr Jayant Patel ruled over Bundaberg Hospital for two years in the early 2000s, despite being banned from surgical practice in the United States. This gripping true account is the story that set Gold Walkley Award-winning journalist Hedley Thomas on his path to becoming Australia’s most trusted investigative reporter. Based on his bestselling book, the Sick to Death podcast explores a dark chapter in Australian healthcare and the bravery of one nurse who refused to stay silent. Subscribers to The Australian hear new episodes first at sicktodeathpodcast.com. Plus, get exclusive access to photos, videos, timelines, and more at the website.

Latest episodes

Episode 12: Bring Him Back

March 5, 2026 · 1 hr 5 min

The inquiry into Bundaberg Hospital and Dr Jayant Patel tears open Queensland Health’s culture. Buried reports are resurfaced in televised hearings, hospital staff are summoned without notice, and the government is put under pressure. As…
Episode 11: The Breaking Point

February 26, 2026 · 1 hr 5 min

A simple Google search detonates a statewide crisis as Dr Jayant Patel’s past is laid bare. The resulting media storm unleashes public fury, an outpouring of grief from patients and families, and vindication for Bundaberg Hospital's…
Episode 10: The Bombshell

February 12, 2026 · 1 hr 3 min

“You know, he didn’t become a bad surgeon overnight.” This off-handed comment by a Bundaberg nurse prompts Hedley Thomas to start looking into Dr Patel’s history. A Google search uncovers the incredible truth. The Courier Mail must…
Episode 9: Mind Games

February 5, 2026 · 1 hr 6 min

Nurse Toni Hoffman risks a clandestine meeting with Hedley Thomas, as hospital administrators continue their hunt for the person leaking stories. Meanwhile, the Minister and Director‑General fly into Bundaberg to scold staff and shelve…
Episode 8: Grind Them Down

January 29, 2026 · 1 hr 1 min

Dr Patel books a ticket to flee overseas as the story of Queensland’s own ‘Dr Death’ gains traction in the media. Meanwhile, at Bundaberg Base Hospital, management still refuses to acknowledge any wrongdoing. Instead, the nurses feel…
Episode 7: Cover It Up

January 8, 2026 · 1 hr 10 min

Defeated by the bureaucracy of public health, veteran ICU nurse Toni Hoffman drives through a storm to blow the whistle on Jayant Patel. Politician Rob Messenger takes up the fight in the Queensland parliament. With the first shots…
Episode 6: The Bloodletting

January 1, 2026 · 1 hr 8 min

The list of Jayant Patel’s victims continues to grow. Fifteen‑year‑old Shannon Mobbs arrives after a trail‑bike crash and has his femoral vein tied off, a cancer patient’s healthy bowel is cut, a man with a punctured carotid artery is…
Episode 5: The Messenger

December 25, 2025 · 1 hr 12 min

Unrest at Bundaberg Hospital grows, as staff grapple with the devastating consequences of Dr Jayant Patel’s reckless practices. After yet another tragic patient outcome, Nurse Toni Hoffman is galvanised into action. She decides to do…