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Dr Roman Hasil, the Czech doctor under fire for bungled operations at Whanganui Hospital, is considering his future while staying with friends in Windsor, west of Sydney.
Describing himself as a sick and broken man, Dr Hasil also says he will later speak publicly to correct "inaccuracies and lies" that have emerged since details of the operations were made public.
"I am sorry for what has happened," he said yesterday. "I always tried to be a good doctor."
Dr Hasil's case has alarmed medical authorities on both sides of the Tasman following condemnation of the Whanganui District Health Board by Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson for failing to adequately check his background.
Eight of 32 tubal litigations performed by Dr Hasil failed, and six patients fell pregnant.
His registration in Queensland and New South Wales has been suspended.
Speaking from a house near Windsor he said he wanted to explain his side of the story but was not at present thinking clearly.
"What is the problem now is that I am broken, sick man and I am on heavy medication and I will prepare my statement a little bit later on when I can think a little better," he said.
"I will say there are some inaccuracies in what the newspapers said, and even some lies, that I would like to put it on the proper side.
"But I am not ready yet. I can even [later] go on television or whatever is necessary, because I was honest all my life.
"What has happened, like I said, I am sorry. But I am not in a position now to answer correctly or whatever, because I am broken, sick man."
Dr Hasil said he had also yet to decide whether there was any future for him in any kind of medical field, and whether he would remain in Australia.
A graduate of Universita Komenskeho in Bratislava, he worked as an obstetrician and gynaecologist in Slovakia before moving to Australia 16 years ago.
He is now an Australian citizen.
Dr Hasil has worked at Tasmania's Royal Hobart Hospital, Lismore Base Hospital in northern New South Wales, Rockhampton Hospital in central Queensland and, briefly, at Redcliffe Hospital in Brisbane.
His case follows a number of other high-profile cases in Australia, including Dr Jayant Patel, now facing extradition from the United States after inquiries found he caused the death of as many as 17 patients at Queensland's Bundaberg Base Hospital, and Dr George Reeves, who is alleged to have mutilated hundreds of women at hospitals in Sydney and southern NSW.
Mr Paterson told ABC radio this week that Dr Hasil's case highlighted the need for uniform registration and a central repository containing details of doctors in all states and, possibly, New Zealand.
He was supported by Dr Paul Dugdale, former chief medical officer of the Australian Capital Territory.
"The medical boards of the states and territories do communicate and have certainly been communicating about the doctors that have had press recently," he told the ABC.
"There is a trend to improving the communication between the boards, so that's important to note.
"But, nevertheless, we think there would be improved public confidence if there could be a national system and the capacity for the public to actually look up the national registration system to have a look at the details about their doctor."
