Portland-area doctor to face charges in deaths
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) - Criminal charges will be filed tomorrow against the former Oregon surgeon who is accused of contributing to the deaths of at least 13 patients in an Australian hospital.
Jayant Patel was director of surgery at the Bundaberg Base Hospital in Queensland from 2003 to 2005.
Patel left Australia in April and now lives in Oregon. He has repeatedly refused to comment on the allegations.
KATU reporter Bob Heye went to his home near Cedar Mill Tuesday but no one answered the door. Neighbors said the doctor has been around the neighborhood recently, however.
An Australian newspaper reported that Patel would face three charges of manslaughter involving patients who allegedly died as a result of his surgical errors in Bundaberg.
The paper said he will also face five charges of grievous bodily harm, four charges related to negligent acts causing harm and eight charges of fraud.
It is not clear what possible penalties he would face.
Patel was hired at Bundaberg without disclosing that he had been disciplined for negligence by medical boards in Oregon and New York, according to Australian authorities.
Australian authorities expect a judge to issue an arrest warrant for Patel at any time. After that, they'll seek his extradition from the U.S.
An audit at Bundaberg hospital tied 17 deaths to Patel. In some cases he allegedly hooked up the colons of patients backward.
Patel's license was suspended in Oregon in September 2000, banning him from performing certain operations.
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Portland is waiting until it gets a formal extradition request before taking any action in the case.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Jayant Patel was director of surgery at the Bundaberg Base Hospital in Queensland from 2003 to 2005.
Patel left Australia in April and now lives in Oregon. He has repeatedly refused to comment on the allegations.
KATU reporter Bob Heye went to his home near Cedar Mill Tuesday but no one answered the door. Neighbors said the doctor has been around the neighborhood recently, however.
An Australian newspaper reported that Patel would face three charges of manslaughter involving patients who allegedly died as a result of his surgical errors in Bundaberg.
The paper said he will also face five charges of grievous bodily harm, four charges related to negligent acts causing harm and eight charges of fraud.
It is not clear what possible penalties he would face.
Patel was hired at Bundaberg without disclosing that he had been disciplined for negligence by medical boards in Oregon and New York, according to Australian authorities.
Australian authorities expect a judge to issue an arrest warrant for Patel at any time. After that, they'll seek his extradition from the U.S.
An audit at Bundaberg hospital tied 17 deaths to Patel. In some cases he allegedly hooked up the colons of patients backward.
Patel's license was suspended in Oregon in September 2000, banning him from performing certain operations.
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Portland is waiting until it gets a formal extradition request before taking any action in the case.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)