Charges dropped against ‘Doctor Death’ Jayant Patel in Australia

During the hearing,the Prosecutor Peter Davis said the crown would not be pursuing criminal medical negligence charges against Patel,an Indian-born US citizen,after deciding it was not in the interests of justice.

The Director of Public Prosecutions cited the amount of time that had passed,the time Patel has already spent in jail,the strength of Patel’s defence and the cost of litigation,more than USD 3 million,as factors in his decision.

Patel was facing trial on two charges of manslaughter,two of grievous bodily harm,an alternative charge of negligent acts causing harm,seven counts of fraud and one of attempted fraud.

Earlier,he pleaded guilty to fraud for dishonestly working as a medical practitioner in Queensland,the only charges the Director of Public Prosecutions chose to pursue,the AAP news agency reported.