{{short description|Indian-born former surgeon and fraudster (born 1950)}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2014}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Jayant Patel | image = Jayant patel.jpg | caption = | birth_name = Jayant Mukundray Patel | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1950|4|10}}<ref name="san diego"/> | birth_place = Jamnagar, Gujarat, India | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = | citizenship = {{hlist|India|United States<ref name="Burton"/>}} | alma_mater = {{ubl| * M. P. Shah Medical College * University of Rochester Medical Center }} | occupation = Surgeon (former) | years_active = 1980s–2005 | module = {{Infobox criminal | embed = yes | employer = Bundaberg Base Hospital | criminal_charge = Fraud<br />Manslaughter<br />Grievous bodily harm | conviction = 4 counts of fraud | conviction_penalty = Fraud – 2 years imprisonment (2013)<br />Manslaughter – acquitted (2013)<br />Grievous bodily harm – acquitted (2013) | conviction_status = Released (suspended sentence) | states = Queensland, Australia<br />Oregon, U.S.<br />New York, U.S. }} }} '''Jayant Mukundray Patel''' (born April 10, 1950<ref name="san diego">{{Cite web |date=2009-04-20 |title=Important dates in surgeon's manslaughter case |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2009/04/20/important-dates-in-surgeons-manslaughter-case/ |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>) is an Indian-American former surgeon and convicted fraudster. Patel was accused of gross negligence whilst working at Bundaberg Base Hospital in Queensland, Australia. Deaths of some of his patients led to widespread publicity in 2005. In June 2010, he was convicted of three counts of manslaughter and one case of grievous bodily harm, and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment.<ref name="2010 QSC 233">{{cite AustLII|QSC|233|2010|litigants=R v Patel |date=July 1, 2010 |courtname=auto}}.</ref>
In August 2012, all convictions were quashed by the full bench of the High Court of Australia and a retrial was ordered due to "highly emotive and prejudicial evidence that was irrelevant to the case" laid before the jury.<ref name="2012 HCA 29">{{cite AustLII|HCA|29|2012|litigants=Patel v The Queen |parallelcite=(2012) 247 CLR 531 |date=August 24, 2012 |courtname=auto}}.</ref> A retrial for one of the manslaughter counts resulted in acquittal and led to a plea deal where Patel pleaded guilty to fraud and the remaining charges were dropped.<ref name="Francene Norton & Jason Rawlins" /> On May 15, 2015, he was barred from practising medicine in Australia.<ref name="abc" />
== Early life and education == Jayant Patel was born in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.<ref name= "Lifeandtimes">{{cite news|title=The life and times of rogue surgeon Jayant Patel|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/news/the-life-and-times-of-rogue-surgeon-jayant-patel/news-story/368e291c1164a13a6ff90bf925eae212|access-date=March 7, 2017|work=The Australian|date=June 30, 2010}}</ref> Initially, he studied surgery at the M. P. Shah Medical College at the Saurashtra University, obtaining a master's degree.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bell |first=Rachael |title=Australia's Dubious Dr. Jayant Patel |url=http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/angels/dr_jayant_patel/2.html |publisher= | website= CrimeLibrary.com |access-date=April 28, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429185757/http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/angels/dr_jayant_patel/2.html |archive-date=April 29, 2014 }}</ref> He moved to the US, receiving further surgical training at the University of Rochester School of Medicine as a surgical intern and a resident in surgery.<ref name="Lifeandtimes" /> He later became a US citizen.<ref name= "Burton">{{Cite journal |last=Burton |first=Bob |date=2008-03-22 |title= FBI arrests doctor wanted in Australia |journal= The BMJ | edition= Clinical Research |volume=336 |issue=7645 |pages= 634.1–634 |doi=10.1136/bmj.39520.479329.DB |issn= 1756-1833 |pmc=2270965 |pmid= 18356222}}</ref>
== Career ==
=== Buffalo, New York, US === In 1984 in Buffalo, New York, health officials cited Patel for failing to examine patients before surgery.<ref name="aotse">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/australian-officials-to-seek-criminal-charges-against-dr-e-coli-1.594627|title=Australian officials to seek criminal charges against 'Dr. E. Coli'|access-date=March 20, 2013|date=November 21, 2006|work=CBC News}}</ref> He was fined US$5,000 and was placed on three years' clinical probation.<ref name="Yahoo2005">{{cite news|title=A look at the career of Dr. Jayant Patel |url=http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050520/ap/d8a6pvn83.html |access-date=March 7, 2017 |work=Yahoo! News |agency=Associated Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050620233637/http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050520/ap/d8a6pvn83.html |archive-date=June 20, 2005 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In April 2001, New York State health officials withdrew Patel's license.<ref name="Yahoo2005" />
=== Portland, Oregon, US === In 1989, Patel moved to the Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Portland, Oregon. In 1995, the hospital named him a "Distinguished Physician of the Year." By this time, Patel had been involved in a string of problem cases, eight of which had prompted or would later lead to malpractice or wrongful death lawsuits.<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldsmith|first=Susan|title=Patel's disturbing record at Kaiser stayed hidden for years (First of two parts)|url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregonianextra/2009/02/_australia_ready_to_charge.html#1|newspaper=The Oregonian|access-date=July 16, 2014}}</ref> Medical staff allege he performed surgery when not rostered to work, operated on other surgeons' patients, operated unnecessarily and caused serious injury and death. In 1998, Kaiser Permanente restricted Patel's practice; he was instructed not to operate on the liver or pancreas and to seek second opinions before performing other surgeries. In September 2000, after reviewing four cases involving the deaths of three patients, the Oregon Board of Medical Examiners made Patel's restriction statewide.<ref>{{cite web|title=JAYANT M. PATEL, MD Summary of Known Disciplinary Record |url=http://www.oregon.gov/OMB/PDFforms/Patel.pdf |publisher=Oregon Board of Medical Examiners |access-date=July 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100816055325/http://www.oregon.gov/OMB/PDFforms/Patel.pdf |archive-date=August 16, 2010 }}</ref> Even though his medical license had been restricted, Patel still received glowing letters of recommendation from his colleagues at Kaiser Permanente.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bell |first=Rachael |title=Australia's Dubious Dr. Jayant Patel |url=http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/angels/dr_jayant_patel/3.html |publisher=Crime Library |access-date=July 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429224948/http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/angels/dr_jayant_patel/3.html |archive-date=April 29, 2014 }}</ref>
=== Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia === In 2003, Patel moved to the position of Director of Surgery at the Bundaberg Base Hospital, where he was employed by Queensland Health under an "area of need" program where overseas trained doctors are employed in predominantly regional understaffed areas. He was appointed despite having no specialist surgical qualifications.<ref name="ihcs">{{cite book|title=Improving Health Care Safety and Quality: Reluctant Regulators|last=Healy|first=Judith|year=2011|publisher=Ashgate Publishing|isbn=978-0-7546-7644-7|pages=34–35|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MIPURkuGhaMC|access-date=June 26, 2012}}</ref>
== Practice in Bundaberg == Inadequacies in Patel's practice were identified. His surgery was described as "antiquated" and "sloppy". Nurses claimed they hid their patients from him when they knew he was in the hospital, doing rounds of the wards in search of people to operate upon.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Marks|first1=Kathy|title=Nurses hid their patients from 'Doctor Death'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/nurses-hid-their-patients-from-doctor-death-493080.html|access-date=March 7, 2017|work=The Independent|date=June 4, 2005}}</ref> He showed poor regard for hygiene.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chapman|first1=Greg|last2=Nancarrow|first2=Dan|title=Dirty Doctor Death|url=https://www.news-mail.com.au/news/apn-dirty-doctor/101071/|access-date=March 7, 2017|work=NewsMail|date=June 21, 2005}}</ref> He attracted the nickname "Dr. Death". It is alleged he altered medical records, including death certificates, to hide his inadequacies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qphci.qld.gov.au/transcripts.htm|title=Queensland Public Hospitals Commission of Inquiry|access-date=June 28, 2007}} ''Note: Temporarily Offline During Trial – March 21, 2010''</ref><ref name=ecoli>{{cite news|last1=Mancuso|first1=Roberta|title=Queensland's 'Dr Death' linked to 80 deaths|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Queenslands-Dr-Death-linked-to-80-deaths/2005/05/24/1116700709781.html|access-date=November 23, 2014|work=The Age|date=May 25, 2005}}</ref> Patel is linked to at least 87 deaths among the 1,202 patients he treated between 2003 and early 2005. Thirty patients died while under his care in Bundaberg.<ref name="ihcs" />
On March 22, 2005, Stuart Copeland, the Queensland Shadow Minister for Health, raised the issue of Patel's clinical practice during question time in Queensland Parliament on behalf of Rob Messenger, the National Party MP for Burnett.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tuesday, 22 March 2005|url=https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2005/2005_03_22_WEEKLY.pdf|publisher=Queensland Parliament|access-date=March 7, 2017|pages=611–612}}</ref> Messenger had been alerted to Patel's inadequacies by Toni Hoffman, a nurse at the Bundaberg Base Hospital. Two days later, Messenger delivered a speech in the Legislative Assembly and called for Patel's suspension. After the Brisbane ''Courier-Mail'' published reports about Patel by journalist Hedley Thomas, the newspaper and other media outlets were flooded with claims of patients' injury or death caused by Patel's operations.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Thomas|first=Hedley|title=Sick to Death|publisher=Allen & Unwin|year=2007|isbn=978-1-74114-881-7|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/sicktodeath00thom}}</ref>
On April 2, 2005, Patel departed Australia for Portland using a business-class airfare paid for by Queensland Health.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Millar|first1=Lisa|title=Queensland's 'Dr Death' inquiry widens|url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1374766.htm|access-date=March 7, 2017|work=The World Today|date=May 23, 2005}}</ref> His passport had not been withheld.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/General/The-scandal-of-Dr-Death/2005/05/27/1117129900672.html|title=The scandal of 'Dr Death'|last=Chandler|first=Jo|work=The Age|date=May 28, 2005|access-date=June 28, 2007|location=Melbourne}}</ref>
On November 22, 2006, a magistrate issued a warrant for Patel's arrest and extradition to Australia.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Thompson|first1=Tuck|last2=Viellaris|first2=Renee|title=US approves extradition of rogue doctor Jayant Patel|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/patel-will-return-on-tuesday/story-e6freoof-1111116954686|access-date=November 23, 2014|work=The Courier-Mail|date=July 19, 2008}}</ref> He was charged with three charges of manslaughter, five charges of causing grievous bodily harm, four of negligent acts causing harm and eight charges of fraud. He was extradited to Australia on July 21, 2008.<ref>{{cite news|title=Patel arrives at Brisbane watch-house|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-07-21/patel-arrives-at-brisbane-watch-house/446234|access-date=November 23, 2014|work=ABC News|date=July 21, 2008}}</ref>
== Inquiries ==
=== Morris Inquiry === In response to public discontent over Patel's performance at Bundaberg Base Hospital, the Beattie government convened the Bundaberg Hospital Commission of Inquiry. The Inquiry held similar judicial powers to a Royal Commission. It commenced hearings in Brisbane led by Anthony Morris, a Queen's Counsel, on May 23, 2005.
On June 10, Morris released an interim report that was tabled on the same day in State Parliament by Premier Peter Beattie. The report recommended, among other things, that Patel be charged with murder or manslaughter in respect to one patient, with causing "a negligent act causing harm" to another patient, that he also be charged with fraud in relation to his registration at the Medical Board of Queensland to practise medicine and that extradition proceedings should begin. It also recommended changes to the ''Medical Practitioners Registration Act 2001''.<ref>{{cite web|title= Bundaberg Hospital Commission of Inquiry : interim report|url=https://www.casewatch.org/foreign/patel/interimreport.pdf| website= casewatch.org | publisher= | date= June 10, 2005|access-date=March 16, 2018|archive-date=May 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516171730/http://www.casewatch.org/foreign/patel/interimreport.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
At Morris Inquiry hearings in Bundaberg starting on June 20, nurses, local Queensland Health administrators and former patients of Patel were all expected to give evidence. Public hearings in Bundaberg concluded on July 14. The Inquiry resumed public hearings in Brisbane on July 25 and also sat in Townsville from August 2 to 4.
During the course of the Morris Inquiry, two senior Queensland Health bureaucrats in the Bundaberg region, Darren Keating and Peter Leck, filed an application in the Supreme Court of Queensland calling for the inquiry to be shut down, alleging that Morris had shown apprehended bias against them. On September 1, Justice Martin Moynihan of the Supreme Court of Queensland ruled in favor of the applicants, finding that the Commission of Inquiry was contaminated with ostensible bias against Keating and Leck, and that evidence gathered from other witnesses was entangled with the evidence given by Keating and Leck.<ref>{{cite AustLII|QSC|243|2005| litigants=Keating v Morris |date= September 1, 2005 |courtname= auto}}</ref>
=== Davies Inquiry === {{More|Davies Commission}} A new inquiry began on September 8, 2005, and was headed by former Supreme Court of Queensland judge Justice Geoffrey Davies QC. This inquiry, the ''Queensland Public Hospitals Commission of Inquiry'', was widely known as the Davies Inquiry.
The report of the Davies Inquiry was handed down on November 30, 2005. It recommended that charges of manslaughter and other criminal offences be prosecuted against Patel.<ref name="ihcs" /> The report also apportioned much of the blame to two former Health Ministers, Gordon Nuttall and Wendy Edmond, as well as senior Queensland Health bureaucrats for allowing the existence of an organisational culture of secrecy and ostracising of whistleblowers that allowed Patel's misdeeds to go unpunished for two years.<ref>{{cite web| title=Queensland Public Hospitals Commission of Inquiry|url= http://www.qphci.qld.gov.au/final_report/Final_Report.pdf| website= qphci.qld.gov.au |date=November 30, 2005 | accessdate = }}</ref>
Peter Woodruff, an independent surgeon, was asked by Justice Davies to examine Patel's work. Woodruff believes that Patel negligently caused 13 deaths and serious complications suffered by at least 31 other patients.<ref>{{cite web|title= Australia's Dr Death faces manslaughter charge|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/death/20060203.htm|work=rediff.com| date= | access-date=April 28, 2014}}</ref>
=== Forster Inquiry === The Forster Inquiry, also known as the Queensland Health Systems Review, was commissioned by the Queensland Government on April 16, 2005, as a non-judicial inquiry specifically due to the political and public sentiments following the practices of Patel at Bundaberg Hospital with a broader focus on the practices, systems and processes of Queensland Health.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/Id/40572 |title=2nd Inquiry Will Check Health Systems To Aim For Better Results | publisher= The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory |website= statements.qld.gov.au |date=April 26, 2005 |access-date=June 17, 2017 |archive-date=April 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401060021/http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/Id/40572 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Its report was issued in September 2005.
=== Aftermath === The Beattie government's handling of the crisis was received poorly by locals. As a result, voters were expected to punish the Labor government. At the 2006 state election, the once safe Labor seat of Bundaberg was narrowly won on preferences by National candidate Jack Dempsey, defeating Labor candidate Sonja Cleary. The Nationals won the seat with a two-party-preferred swing of 6.3%, which was largely attributed to the scandal and related inquiries, as well as the retirement of incumbent Labor member Nita Cunningham.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2006-09-09 |title=Postal votes to decide Bundaberg MP |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-09-09/postal-votes-to-decide-bundaberg-mp/1259928| website = abc.net.au |publisher=ABC News |language=en-AU |access-date=2024-02-08}}</ref>
== Legal proceedings ==
=== Extradition === {{Wikinews|Jayant "Dr Death" Patel arrested in Oregon, US}} Patel was arrested in Portland, Oregon, on March 11, 2008, by FBI agents.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/11/patel.arrest.ap/index.html|title=Doctor arrested in deaths of 3 patients in Australia|access-date=March 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080315033512/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/11/patel.arrest.ap/index.html|archive-date=March 15, 2008}}</ref> He appeared in court that day with a court-appointed attorney, telling Federal Magistrate Dennis Hubel that he was unable to afford a lawyer, after incurring significant pre-trial legal fees. In response, the Magistrate ordered Patel, who lived in a $900,000 house, to fill out a financial affidavit before an upcoming detention hearing. Following his arrest, Toni Hoffman, the nurse who took her complaints about Patel to a member of the Parliament of Australia, said that "I am relieved he's been arrested, but there's still a lot to go." Patel denied the allegations. The extradition proceeding against Patel began in April 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/120529410566270.xml&coll=7|title=Ex-surgeon's troubled career leads to jail cell|access-date=March 12, 2008|archive-date=March 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080315045747/http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/120529410566270.xml&coll=7|url-status=dead}}</ref> Patel was denied bail by Judge Hebel on June 28, 2008, with the judge warning Australian and US authorities that they must extradite Patel by July 21, 2008, or he would release Patel on bail.
Patel was extradited: U.S. Marshals handed Patel over to two officers from the Queensland Police Service at Los Angeles International Airport on July 19, who then escorted him onboard Qantas flight QF 176.<ref>{{cite news|first=Tim|last=Dick|title=Accused doctor returns for his day in court|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/patel-returns-for-his-day-in-court/2008/07/20/1216492255414.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=July 21, 2008|access-date=July 21, 2008}}</ref> The flight arrived at Brisbane Airport on the morning of July 21.<ref>{{cite news|author=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|title=Patel arrives at Brisbane watch-house|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/21/2309149.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080721063809/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/21/2309149.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 21, 2008|date=July 21, 2008|access-date=July 22, 2008}}</ref> Patel was taken immediately to the Brisbane watch-house and was granted bail by the Roma Street Magistrates Court the same day.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jasmin|last=Lill|author2=Matthew Fynes-Clinton|title=Jayant Patel bailed as emotions on a high at court hearing|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24056924-952,00.html|work=The Courier-Mail|date=July 22, 2008|access-date=July 22, 2008}}</ref>
=== Trial === {{Main|John Byrne (judge)#The Queen v Patel}}
Patel was tried in the Queensland Supreme Court for the unlawful killing of three patients and grievous bodily harm to a fourth.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,26579695-5003402,00.html|work=The Courier-Mail|title=Supreme Court told Jayant Patel trial should take less than projected 12 weeks|first=Mark|last=Oberhardt|date=January 12, 2010}}</ref> He pleaded not guilty to all charges.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/surgeon-patel-to-face-trial-on-monday-20100319-qjia.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|title=Surgeon Patel to face trial on Monday|date=March 19, 2010}}</ref>
On June 29, 2010, Jayant Patel was found guilty of all four charges.<ref>{{cite news|title=Patel guilty on all charges|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/29/2940352.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702052032/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/29/2940352.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 2, 2010|access-date=June 29, 2010|newspaper=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=June 29, 2010}}</ref> On July 1, he was sentenced to seven years in jail for his offences.<ref name="tivs">{{Cite news|url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/totally-inadequate-verdict-split-on-patel-sentence-20100701-zph9.html?rand=1277963935139|title='Totally inadequate': verdict split on Patel sentence|author=Amelia Bentley|access-date=January 22, 2012|date=July 1, 2010|work=Brisbane Times|publisher=Fairfax Media}}</ref> Patel appealed his conviction and sentence to the Court of Appeal and the prosecution also appealed sentence. Both appeals were dismissed.
==== Appeal to High Court ==== Patel then appealed the Court of Appeal's decision to the High Court of Australia and was granted special leave to appeal. On August 24, 2012, the High Court unanimously allowed the appeal and quashed Patel's convictions on the ground that prejudicial evidence had likely influenced the jury. Patel argued that by the time prosecutors admitted, 43 days into the trial, that they could not prove Patel was guilty of incompetence, the jury had already heard testimony and evidence about his unusual behavior.<ref name="2012 HCA 29" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/patel/story-e6frg6n6-1226457333848|title=Jayant Patel walks free after High Court quashes manslaughter convictions|author=Jared Owens|date=August 24, 2012|newspaper=The Australian}}</ref> The High Court granted Patel a new trial.
==== Retrial ==== The following year, a retrial was held for one of the manslaughter charges, and Patel was acquitted by the jury.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/jayant-patel-not-guilty-over-patient-death-but-more-charges-loom/story-e6freoof-1226596784793|title=Jayant Patel not guilty over patient death but more charges loom|author1=Brooke Baskin |author2=Tony Keim |author3=Josh Robertson |access-date=November 30, 2013|date=March 14, 2013|newspaper=The Courier Mail}}</ref> This resulted in calls to have the remaining charges against Patel dropped.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/call-to-drop-remaining-charges-as-patel-acquitted-of-manslaughter/story-e6frg6nf-1226596742260|title=Jayant Call to drop remaining charges as Patel acquitted of manslaughter|author1=Sarah Elks |author2=Roseanne Barrett |name-list-style=amp |date=March 14, 2013|newspaper=The Australian}}</ref> The remaining manslaughter and grievous bodily harm charges were later dropped in exchange for Patel pleading guilty to two counts related to him dishonestly gaining registration and two counts related to dishonestly gaining employment in Queensland.<ref name="Francene Norton & Jason Rawlins">{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-21/jayant-patel-sentenced-over-fraud-charges/5107314|title=Former Bundaberg-based doctor Jayant Patel sentenced over fraud charges|author1=Francene Norton |author2=Jason Rawlins |name-list-style=amp |date=November 22, 2013|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref> Patel was sentenced to a two-year suspended sentence for those fraud charges.<ref name="Francene Norton & Jason Rawlins" />
== Aftermath == In a television documentary on the case aired by CNN in November 2010 as part of its "World's Untold Stories" series and entitled "They Called Him 'Dr. Death'", several of Patel's medical co-workers in Australia testified to having repeatedly blown a whistle on him, only to be ignored by medical superiors and other authorities. Questions were also raised about the lack of due diligence by those involved in his appointment.<ref>{{cite news|title=They Called Him 'Dr Death'|date=November 2, 2010|work=CNN|url=http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/international/2010/11/02/wus.dr.death.bk.a.cnn|access-date=November 18, 2010}}{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The Making of a Bad Surgeon|date=November 2, 2010|work=CNN|url=http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/international/2010/11/02/wus.dr.death.bk.b.cnn|access-date=November 18, 2010}}{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="part3" />
In response to the case, Peter Beattie fired the Director General, Robert Stable and changes were made to funding, the operations of the medical board, and the procedures for handling concerns raised by whistle blowers.<ref name="part3">{{cite news|title='Dr Death' Found Guilty|date=November 2, 2010|work=CNN|url=http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/international/2010/11/02/wus.dr.death.bk.c.cnn|access-date=November 18, 2010}}{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
On May 15, 2015, the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal banned Patel from ever practising medicine in Australia again. The tribunal upheld the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency's contentions that Patel deceived authorities into granting him a medical licence, concealed matters related to his fitness to be a doctor, and performed surgeries that he knew he could not competently perform.<ref>''Medical Board of Australia v Patel'' [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/qld/QCAT/2015/133.html <nowiki>[2015]</nowiki> QCAT 133], Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.</ref><ref name="abc">{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=John|title=Bundaberg surgeon Jayant Patel barred from ever practising medicine again in Australia|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-15/jayant-patel-barred-from-practising-medicine-again-in-australia/6472234|access-date=May 15, 2015|work=ABC News|date=May 15, 2015}}</ref>
== In popular culture ==
Journalist Hedley Thomas (in collaboration with The Australian) released a true crime podcast about Patel called ''Sick to death'' <ref>{{cite web | url = https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/introducing-sick-to-death/id1851107982 | title = Sick to death | date = 2025-11-06}}</ref>.
== See also == * Christopher Duntsch * Harold Shipman * Ben Geen
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *[http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=42516 'Six-Point Action Plan' to deal with biased evidence gathered by Morris Inquiry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060824080019/http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=42516 |date=August 24, 2006 }} *[http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/malpractice/ Portland ''Oregonian'' coverage (includes copies of documents)] *[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4080164.stm Australia's 'Doctor Death'] *[http://www.qphci.qld.gov.au/ Davies Inquiry website] – includes terms of reference and transcripts of public sittings (temporary disabled due to current legal proceedings) *[https://web.archive.org/web/20050421083213/http://www.kaiserpapers.info/kpdrdeathmansion.html The Kaiser Papers] *[http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=42771 Queensland Government press release announcing Davies Inquiry] *[https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A//web.archive.org/web/20060207044719/http%3A//www.qld.gov.au/announcements/letter.pdf Open letter from Peter Beattie]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Patel, Jayant}} Category:Indian emigrants to the United States Category:University of Rochester alumni Category:American emigrants to Australia Category:Medical doctors from Oregon Category:20th-century Indian medical doctors Category:Medical malpractice Category:Living people Category:1950 births Category:People extradited from the United States Category:American people imprisoned abroad Category:Indian people imprisoned in the United States Category:People extradited to Australia Category:Foreign nationals imprisoned in Australia Category:Indian people imprisoned abroad Category:Prisoners and detainees of Queensland Category:American people convicted of manslaughter Category:Indian people convicted of manslaughter Category:American health professionals of Indian descent Category:People from Jamnagar Category:Medical doctors from Gujarat Category:20th-century Indian surgeons Category:American people convicted of fraud Category:People acquitted of manslaughter Category:20th-century American surgeons Category:21st-century Indian surgeons Category:American people of Gujarati descent