World | Australia
'Dr Death' returns to Australia to face charges
An Indian-born American surgeon was returned to Australia on Monday to face manslaughter charges for what authorities say were botched or unnecessary operations that killed three people.
- AP
- Published: 00:08 July 22, 2008
Brisbane: An Indian-born American surgeon was returned to Australia on Monday to face manslaughter charges for what authorities say were botched or unnecessary operations that killed three people.
Jayant Patel, dubbed "Dr Death" by Australia's media, was granted bail after appearing in court in Queensland state soon after arriving from the United States.
The 58-year-old Patel, faces 13 charges overall including three manslaughter charges, grievous bodily harm and fraud.
He had been in custody in Portland, Oregon, since March 11 and last month agreed to an extradition request by the Australian government.
Patel will also have to live at a place approved by the state's Director of Public Prosecutions, report to police three days a week, surrender his passport and not leave Queensland or approach an international airport.
Great attention
Patel's return received blanket coverage by Australian media. News cars and helicopters followed a small police motorcade from the airport to cells in Brisbane, Queensland's capital, after he arrived on a flight accompanied by two state detectives.
His return came just over three years since he left Australia under far different circumstances - with his business class airfare paid for by the Queensland health department.
Patel was hired at a hospital in Bundaberg north of Brisbane, where he may have contributed directly to 13 deaths due to an "unacceptable level of care" at the hospital, but he has not been formally charged in all those cases.
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