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BRISBANE, Australia (AP) - A court issued warrants Wednesday for the arrest of an American surgeon on three charges of manslaughter and five charges of causing grievous bodily harm to patients at an Australian public hospital, officials said.
A government inquiry found that Jayant Patel, of Portland, Ore., may have contributed directly to 13 deaths due to an "unacceptable level of care" at Bundaberg Base Hospital in the state of Queensland while he was director of surgery there from 2003 to 2005.
The warrants, issued at the request of police in a closed-court hearing, are the first step in an official extradition process. An extradition request must go through Australia's federal attorney-general, then would be forwarded to the U.S. Justice Department. A hearing in a U.S. court would be held, and Patel could potentially appeal an extradition order.
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