Doctor's 'negligence led to mum's death'

Former NSW doctor Graeme Reeves ignored nurses' concerns and refused to examine a fatally ill patient up close because he did not want to catch a virus, a court has heard.

The patient, 38-year-old Kerry Ann McAllister, died from septicaemia four days later after Reeves misdiagnosed her bacterial infection as a virus, NSW District Court was told on Friday.

In his judge-alone trial, Reeves pleaded not guilty to Ms McAllister's 1996 manslaughter.

The former Bega gynaecologist has spent time in jail for maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on a female patient in 2002 after surgically removing her clitoris and labia without consent.

Ms McAllister died five days after giving birth at The Hills Private Hospital at Baulkham Hills in May 1996.

Crown prosecutor David Price read extracts from the statements of a number of nurses who said Reeves had brushed off their concerns about the mother's worsening condition.

Ms McAllister was shivering and running a temperature of 40.1C a day after giving birth, according to nurses.

Mr Price said a nurse who was on duty stated Reeves was unconcerned and said he "wasn't going near Kerrie because he didn't want to catch (the virus)", Mr Price said.

Three days later, Ms McAllister's condition had worsened and she was on morphine after complaining of severe pain.

When a nurse asked Reeves if he was going to see the patient he told her no because it was "a waste of time" until she had been seen by an orthopedic consultant, Mr Price said.

However, after examining results of a blood test - which had been ordered by another doctor - Reeves consulted with other doctors at Westmead Hospital and an urgent transfer was arranged.

By that time it was too late and Ms McAllister died about 2.30am the next day.

Mr Price said a reasonably competent obstetrician could have easily ruled out a virus early on.

Reeves' failure to order exclusionary tests or treatment with antibiotics was a "major error", the prosecutor said.

"If Dr Reeves had acted in a different manner it is highly likely that Kerry would have received appropriate treatment much earlier," he said.

Reeves admits negligence but argues his conduct does not amount to criminal negligence.

His barrister, Ragni Mathur, said Ms McAllister's husband and son were suffering a virus at the time of the diagnosis.

She said experts would testify the symptoms of a bacterial infection and a virus were indistinguishable.

Ms Mathur also said three other medical practitioners examined Ms McAllister and none expressed any concerns about an infection.

"There is no question that Dr Reeves, more then 20 years ago, made a mistake," she said.

"That mistake, however ... does not amount to manslaughter."

The trial continues.