21 Jul 2008

Surgeon makes court appearance in Brisbane

8:34 pm on 21 July 2008

Former Bundaberg surgeon Jayant Patel made his first appearance in a Brisbane court on Monday on 14 charges, including three of manslaughter, relating to his time at Queensland's Bundaberg hospital.

Dr Patel was escorted into the room by two detectives and sat handcuffed in the dock while his lawyer Michael Martin announced he would apply for bail.

Director of Public Prosecutions Tony Moynihan opposed the request and sought an order to suppress certain parts of the proceedings.

Magistrate Brian Hine briefly adjourned the hearing to read submissions from both parties before ruling that Dr Patel could be released on bail, provided he surrendered his passport and reported regularly to police.

Dr Patel arrived on a Qantas flight from Los Angeles early on Monday morning.

The Indian-born American citizen faces charges arising from botched operations performed on patients in Bundaberg between 2003 and 2005.

He was nicknamed Dr Death by former colleagues.

It has taken more than three years to get Dr Patel, 58, back to Queensland.