Silicon Valley/Melbourne: India-born surgeon Jayant Patel, wanted for alleged botched surgeries leading to 17 deaths in Australia, has denied the charges against him and will seek bail in a US court.

Fiftyseven-year-old Patel, who faces charges of manslaughter and negligence, was arrested by the FBI on a request by the Australian Government from his home in the US state of Oregon on Monday and is set to face an extradition hearing on April 10. He will seek bail when he reappears in a court today. Patel is expected to fight extradition as he was not sure of getting a fair trial in Australia.

During a hearing in Portland court on Tuesday, his federal public defender Susan Russell said her client "denies the allegations (coming) out of Australia." Patel, dubbed as Dr Death by the media in Australia, appeared with the court-appointed attorney and told the judge that he could "most likely not" afford to hire a lawyer.

Patel "schemed to hide his history of professional misconduct from officials at an Australian hospital," the US attorney's office said in a memo filed with the court. The government of Australia is seeking extradition of Patel to face 16 charges, including three of manslaughter in connection with three deaths arising from botched surgeries and falsifying records during his two-year tenure at a rural public hospital in the state of Queensland.

He faces three life sentences if convicted on the charges, which also include allegations of causing grievous bodily harm, negligence and fraud.

Source : PTI