Erin Patterson’s lawyer turns to her earlier evidence about weight-loss surgery
Barrister
Colin Mandy SC says
Erin Patterson told the jury that she was planning to have a pre-surgery appointment for a gastric bypass procedure on 13 September 2023 at Enrich clinic in Melbourne.
The court heard Patterson cancelled the appointment on 11 September 2023.
Rogers read a statement from the clinic yesterday that said the clinic has never offered gastric bypass surgery. Patterson agreed with this.
Earlier during cross-examination, Patterson said she was “puzzled” when told the clinic did not offer gastric bypass. She said she was also looking into liposuction.
Mandy shows Patterson medical records from the evidence brief in the case.
Erin Patterson says she cancelled Melbourne clinic appointment regarding treatment for weight loss
The records show that
Erin Patterson contacted the Enrich clinic twice in early 2023.
Mandy asks what she knew when she contacted the clinic then.
“I was under the understanding they offered treatments concerning weight loss and I believed that to be .... gastric bypass and liposuction,” Patterson says.
Asked what she meant by a pre-surgery appointment, Patterson said the 13 September 2023 appointment was meant to be her first face-to-face consultation so staff could understand her “needs.”
Patterson agrees she cancelled the appointment. The jury is shown a text message from the clinic on 11 September 2023 to confirm the appointment.
Patterson says she thinks she rung the clinic to cancel.
Colin Mandy SC then shows the jury a screenshot from the Enrich clinic website.
It says the “Dr Rich will not be offering liposuction as a treatment option” from July 2024.
Patterson says in July 2023 she understood the clinic offered liposuction and other weight loss procedures.
Mandy asks why she cancelled the appointment.
“It was a difficult time, yeah, it was a very difficult time,” Patterson says.
Patterson agrees she was mistaken the clinic offered gastric bypass surgery.
Erin Patterson’s barrister says Melbourne clinic did offer liposuction surgery at one stage