Home

  • Home
    • » e-Newsletters

Doctor decides not to fight extradition from U.S.

Healthcare Security Weekly, July 14, 2008

An Indian surgeon accused of manslaughter in the deaths of patients in Australia has decided not to fight extradition from the United States, reported BBC News.

FBI agents arrested Dr. Jayant Patel at his home in Oregon in March and he has been detained in a high-security prison in Portland since. He was expected to wage a lengthy court battle to avoid extradition to Australia where he faces 16 charges, including manslaughter, grievous bodily harm, and negligence, BBC News reported. But in a surprise move, his legal team filed a motion to a U.S. court expressing his “willingness, desire, and intent” to face the allegations.

Patel was serving as the head of surgery at Queensland hospital between 2003 and 2005 when he was linked in a government inquiry to the deaths of 17 patients, the BBC News said. The inquiry said the deaths were a result of alleged medical malpractice on the part of the doctor.

Most Popular