Anaesthetist pleads not guilty to infecting women with Hep C

AN ANAESTHETIST accused of infecting 56 women with Hepatitis C at a Melbourne abortion clinic has pleaded not guilty to 168 charges after being committed to stand trial.

Dr James Latham Peters, 62, is alleged to have infected the patients at the Croydon Day Surgery by using pre-filled syringes of anaesthetic drugs on himself before administering the remainder to the women, in a bid to hide his drug addiction.

He faces three charges of conduct endangering life, negligently causing serious injury and recklessly causing serious injury for each of the women he allegedly infected between June 2008 and November 2009.

At the conclusion of his committal hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg found the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence for a jury to convict Dr Peters.

The hearing has previously heard that Peters has been addicted to the drug fentanyl, an opioid used in general anaesthesia, since 1996.

The prosecution alleges he had known of his Hepatitis C status since 1997.

Dr Peters' bail was continued and he will appear in the Supreme Court for a directions hearing on 6 June.