BRISBANE, Australia An Indian-born American surgeon was returned to Australia on Monday to face manslaughter charges by reason of what authorities say were botched or unnecessary operations that killed three people.

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Dr. Jayant Patel, 58, was escorted without handcuffs by two Australian police officers on a Qantas Airways flock from Los Angeles to Brisbane. He had been in custody in Portland, Ore., before this March 11 and late last month agreed to some extradition request by the Australian government.

He appeared at a Brisbane respects hearing distance later Monday to face three counts of manslaughter and other charges for baneful bodily harm and fraud. He faces up to life in gaol if convicted of any of the manslaughter charges.

The judge granted Patel bail and ordered that he be freed from custody on Tuesday undecided a trial that likely won’t start until the second half of 2009.

Patel’s return believed blanket coverage by Australian media, which receive dubbed him “Dr. Death.” News cars and helicopters followed a small police motorcade from the airport to cells in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland state.

His return came just over three years since he left Australia under far deviating circumstances - by his business rank airfare paid for by the Queensland health department.

Patel was hired at a hospital in Bundaberg, a sugar industry town of 47,000 about 190 miles north of Brisbane, end failed to disclose that he had been disciplined for negligence by medicinal boards in Oregon and New York, according to Australian authorities.

The department gave him a one-way ticket in April 2005, despite allegations being raised in Queensland’s legislature that he had been responsible because of the death of at least one patient.

Patel was employed at Bundaberg Base Hospital from early 2003 to early 2005. In tardy 2003, he was promoted to director of surgery.

A sway inquiry concluded that Patel may acquire contributed in a straight line to 13 deaths due to an “unacceptable level of perplexity” at the hospital, but he has not been formally charged in all those cases.

Judy Kemps, whose save was one of Patel’s patients and died after being operated on in December 2004, said she was concerned about the upcoming criminal proceedings.

“I’m real apprehensive about it, but I’m very excited that … at finally he is here,” Kemps said.


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