Melbourne: India-American surgeon Jayant Patel, accused of gross incompetence and manslaughter while working at an Australian hospital, today pleaded not guilty at a Brisbane court.
59-year-old Patel, accused of manslaughter of Mervyn John Morris, James Edward Phillips and Gerry Kemps, said, "Not guilty, your honour" as judge John Byrne read each charge at Brisbane Supreme Court.
He is also accused of causing grievous bodily harm to Ian Rodney Vowles while working at Bundaberg hospital in Queensland between 2003 and 2005.
Patel, nicknamed 'Dr Death', pleaded not guilty on the first day of his Brisbane Supreme Court trial to three counts of manslaughter and one of grievous bodily harm.
If convicted, Patel faces life in prison. He was extradited from the United States in 2008 to face the charges.
The trial is listed for 10 weeks. The trial may include evidence from up 90 witnesses.
PTI
First Published: Monday, March 22, 2010, 11:27