Sydney, Apr 5: Dr Jayant Patel of Indian origin, who earned the sobriquet 'Dr Death' for botching several surgeries resulting in patients deaths, is learnt to have lost his plea for getting released from a Portland jail while he fought extradition to Australia. This means he could take him more than two years in jail in the US. The doctor had made the plea last month. However, Judge Dennis J Hubel is learnt to have refused his request, announcing that he should be "detained for the duration of these extradition proceedings".

The judge said that Dr Patel, a US citizen, had "sufficient assets" to flee if released on bail to his country of birth, India. "This court does not have adequate information before it to eliminate or moderate the possibility that respondent could regain his Indian citizenship and potentially an Indian passport with which to travel," the news.con.au quoted judge Hubel as writing in his order while turning down the plea. Dr Patel (57) has been held in Portland's high-security prison, the Multnomah County Detention Centre, since his arrest at his Portland home in March 11. Australian authorities have charged Dr Patel with 16 offences, including three counts of manslaughter, related to alleged botched operations during his time as head of surgery at Queensland's Bundaberg Base Hospital between 2003 and 2005.

ANI