Oz court drops manslaughter charges against 'Dr. Death' Patel in public interest

All charges against Indian-origin surgeon Dr. Jayant Patel, accused of the man slaughter of three patients in Australia, will be dropped except for four fraud charges.

Prosecutor Peter Davis told the Brisbane District Court that the Crown would not be pursuing criminal medical negligence charges against Patel, as it was not in the interests of justice.

According to the Brisbane Times, Patel pleaded guilty to four charges of fraud while he was working as a medical practitioner at Bundaberg Base Hospital.

He had been facing 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, the report said.

In a statement Director of Public Prosecutions Tony Moynihan said it was not in the public's interest to continue pursuing Patel on the charges of criminal negligence, the report said.

He is due to be sentenced over the fraud convictions next Thursday.

Patel's barrister Ken Fleming said that his client hopes to return to the US soon.