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Friends fear for Indian-origin surgeon’s safety

MELBOURNE: Voicing fears that Indian American surgeon Jayant Patel may not get a fair trial in Australia, his friends say they are afraid that the doctor, who faces manslaughter charges, may be “lynched” if he is extradited from the U.S.

On hearing that Dr. Patel, 58, was being extradited, Vijay Mehta said he “cringed because I was afraid of this moment and ... I hope that my fear of his getting lynched in Australia somehow or other does not happen — so I am just praying for him.”

Mr. Mehta had contacted Amnesty International in the U.S. to ask it to act as observer at the trial, ABC reported.

He said a group of Patel supporters would watch the case closely from the U.S.

Dr. Patel’s friends say he has already been “demonised” by the media which has dubbed him Dr. Death.

Australia has been seeking extradition of Dr. Patel to face 16 charges in connection with three deaths arising from botched surgeries and falsifying records during his two-year tenure in a rural public hospital in Queensland after he left Portland. He faces life sentences if convicted on the charges.— PTI

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