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Australia to request “Dr. Death’s” extradition

Patel charged with multiple manslaughter

Melbourne: The noose around Indian-born U.S. surgeon Jayant Patel, charged with multiple manslaughter in the deaths of several patients, appeared to be tightening with Australian Premier John Howard saying the Government was moving “swiftly” to ensure that he is brought to justice. “We are moving very carefully but swiftly to make sure that justice is done. We are keen that that man be brought to justice,” the Prime Minister told a radio channel on Wednesday.

His comments came as media here claimed the Government had given the go-ahead for extradition of Dr. Patel from the U.S. to face charges relating to deaths of patients during his two years as director of surgery at a Queensland public hospital.

The Government refused to confirm the report.

The move will trigger the arrest of the 57-year-old medico, dubbed as “Dr. Death” by the media, in Oregon, his home town in the U.S. A Queensland Government-commissioned inquiry had concluded that Dr. Patel may have contributed directly to 13 deaths. A magistrate issued warrants last November for the arrest of Dr. Patel on three charges of manslaughter and five of grievous bodily harm.

“We are also keen to ensure that the proper legal procedures are applied and that means that there is a requirement for disciplined comments by people in public positions, lest ill-disciplined comments are used in the legal exchanges,” Mr. Howard said. Peter Beattie, Premier of Queensland, said

Dr. Patel would get a fair trial after another doctor alleged that Dr. Patel was being tried by the media and would get as much a fail trial as the Al-Qaeda leader “Osama Bin Laden can get in America”. — PTI

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