US doctor on trial in Australian patient deaths

BRISBANE, Australia - An American doctor charged in the deaths of three patients also wrongly removed another man's bowel, dooming him to a life of pain and dependence on a colostomy bag, an Australian prosecutor said on Tuesday.

Jayant Patel, 59, is being tried on three manslaughter charges and one count of grievous bodily harm related to four patients he treated while working as director of surgery between 2003 and 2005 at a state-run hospital in Bundaberg, 370 km (230 miles) north of Brisbane in Queensland state.

Patel is accused of performing unnecessary, sloppy or antiquated operations.