The first Dr Patel victim to be compensated by the state government might not live long enough to see the payout.

Carter Capner Lawyers, the firm representing the majority of Patel victims, revealed on Tuesday it had settled the first compensation claim.

But the victory has been soured by the fact the recipient of the compensation is gravely ill in Bundaberg Base Hospital.

“He is an older man in his 70s – he isn’t in the Tess Bramich or Beryl Crosby or Doris Hillier category, but he is very ill at the moment,” Mr Brown said.

“The claim involved the failure (by Patel) to remove a tumour and now he has metastatic cancer – it’s just tragic.”

About 200 patients have lodged compensation claims and Mr Brown believed they could all be handled quickly.

“If this instance is anything to go by, we could see the majority of claims settled by the middle of this year,” he said.

Bundaberg Hospital Patient Support Group president Beryl Crosby welcomed the expediency of the compensation process.

“The man’s family is happy with the outcome and the government’s lawyers have been very fair and we hope that continues,” she said.

Parker Simmonds Lawyers also settled the claim of a young Bundaberg father yesterday.

Bundaberg Hospital Victim Support Group president Ian Fleming welcomed the compensation payouts.

“It’s absolutely great that the government is expediting claims and I can’t see why anyone would be unhappy with the speed in which the claims are being handled,” Mr Fleming said.

Mr Fleming said his own compensation claim was still months away from being settled.

Carter Capner Lawyers will discuss the compensation process at the next Bundaberg Hospital Patient Support Group meeting at the Brothers Sports Club from 7pm tonight.