Anaesthetist who infected women with Hep C to pay $300k compensation

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By Helen Vines

A doctor who infected 54 women with Hepatitis C at a Melbourne clinic has agreed to personally pay compensation to them.

Anaesthetist Dr James Peters was jailed for 14 years in 2013 after admitting 55 counts of negligently causing serious injury to patients who had abortions at Croydon Day Surgery between 2008 and 2009.

The court previously heard that Peters, who has Hepatitis C, was addicted to the painkiller Fentanyl and would inject the drug into himself before using the same syringe on his patients.

The victims were awarded $13.75 million compensation in a class action against the surgery, practice boss Dr Mark Schulberg and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

But the women wanted to be compensated by Peters himself and launched civil action against him.

Last month Peters told the Supreme Court he would fight their claim because he wanted to retain some money for his children.

However, the court heard today that an in-principal agreement had been reached for 54 victims to share in a payout of $300,000 from Peters.

A provision has been made for his children.

Peters appeared in court via a video link from jail in Ararat.

The case was adjourned to December 15 for final orders.