The Australian legal system is complex. An illustration of its complexity can be seen in the case of Dr Jayant Patel, a surgeon who had been working at the Bundaberg Base Hospital. In 2010, Patel was found to have caused the death of three patients and the grievous bodily harm of another. An action of criminal negligence was brought against Dr Patel under section 288 of the Criminal Code Act 1899 (Qld). Jurors were advised that, in order to find Dr Patel guilty, they had to find that his decision to perform the operations showed such ‘serious disregard for the patients’ welfare that he should be punished as a criminal’ – or, in other words, ‘that his decision to operate was so thoroughly reprehensible, involving such grave moral guilt, that it should be treated as a crime deserving punishment’ (The Australian, 23 June 2010).