Qld: Patel friend stands by surgeon as case goes to trial

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2009
Qld: Patel friend stands by surgeon as case goes to trial

By Paul Osborne

BRISBANE, April 21 AAP - A friend of surgeon Jayant Patel, who has been committed to
stand trial in Queensland over the deaths of three patients, says he believes justice
will prevail in the case.

Patel, 59, faces trial next year on 13 charges including three of manslaughter relating
to his time as director of surgery at Bundaberg Base Hospital between 2003 and 2005.

He was bailed and committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court on Monday at the conclusion
of a lengthy Brisbane Magistrates Court hearing.

Texas-based surgeon Dr Vijay Mehta, who has maintained a website seeking justice for
Patel, says he stands by his friend.

"I do stand by him and my conviction that we should not criminalise surgical care,"

Dr Mehta told AAP.

He said he was happy that much of the emotion had been taken out of the case.

"Justice cannot prevail if there is too much emotion and prejudging the action of a
person, especially if the person charged is of different ethnicity and nationality and
victims are local," he said.

"He was the easiest scapegoat for the politicians and they have milked that cow to the extreme.

"I am hoping for the best."

AAP pjo/ldj

KEYWORD: PATEL

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