Patel, 57, does not want to be extradited to Australia because he says he will get an unfair trial there. He will seek bail when he reappears in a US court on Thursday.

During a hearing in Portland court on Tuesday, his federal public defender Susan Russell said her client “denies the allegations made by Australia”.

Patel, who has been nicknamed ‘Dr Death’ by the Australian media, came with the court-appointed attorney and told the judge that he could “most likely not” afford to hire a lawyer. A memo filed in the court stated that “Patel schemed to hide his history of professional misconduct from officials at an Australian hospital”, according to the US attorney’s office.

Australia is seeking Patel’s extradition to be tried in 17 counts, including three cases of manslaughter related to botched surgeries and falsifying records during his two-year tenure at a rural public hospital in Queensland.
He faces three life sentences if convicted, which include allegations of causing grievous bodily harm, negligence and fraud. He was arrested by the FBI on a request by the Australian government from his home in Oregon on Monday.