As Erin Patterson remains locked up in prison, the doctor who helped put her there is still dealing with the shocking aftermath of the “Mushroom Murders” trial. Dr Chris Webster – who famously referred to Patterson as a “disturbed sociopathic nutjob” in an interview – has had to downsize his GP clinic in Leongatha, Victoria, to “avoid financial oblivion” after his shocking comments came to light.
“Quite a lot of people were not in favour of me and my style,” says Chris, confirming he has had to downsize his offices.
But he still believes locals at the small rural town support him.
A doctor’s perspective
“Patients that were approving of my compassion and skill will continue to see me,” he insists.
“I’ve got the community’s back and they’ve got mine.”
Chris was the doctor on call at Leongatha Hospital on 31 July 2023, when Patterson’s in-laws Don and Gail, along with Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson and her husband Ian, presented with gastroenteritis-like symptoms.
A shocking realisation
Initially, he suspected it was a case of mass food poisoning from the beef Wellington Patterson served up, but he soon realised something more sinister was at play. He questioned why Patterson
had discharged herself from hospital and suspected she had intentionally poisoned her guests.
In September 2025, Patterson was sentenced to life in prison for killing Don, Gail and Heather, and attempting to kill Ian. After the trial, Chris said he knew the mum of two was guilty when she told him the mushrooms used in the beef Wellington came from Woolworths.
The moment everything changed
He recalled, “My thoughts were, ‘Holy fking shit! You fking did it, you crazy bitch. You poisoned them all!’”
Chris later added, “The turning point for me was that moment.”
The comments led to complaints from the public, and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency found that Chris had to undergo an education and mentoring programme. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners also took away his rights to supervise other GPs, meaning he was forced to downsize his clinic.
No regrets, no sleepless nights
But Chris insists his dealings with Patterson and her trial do not keep him up at night, saying, “Really, I don’t give a flying f**k.”
After news of the downsize broke, the clinic’s remaining staff released their own statement to explain the issue, writing, “There are a number of complex issues underlying the current situation.”
