Patel lawyers lodge appeal

Former patients of jailed surgeon Jayant Patel are braced for another harrowing
court battle as lawyers for the man dubbed Dr Death lodge an appeal against his
sentence and conviction.
The lawyers lodged papers in the Queensland Court of Appeal late on Thursday
afternoon, but they could not be contacted for comment and the registry is closed
until Friday morning.
Patel, 60, was sentenced on July 1 to seven years' jail for the manslaughter of
three patients and causing grievous bodily harm to a fourth.
The charges related to Patel's time as director of surgery at the Bundaberg Base
Hospital between 2003 and 2005.
Queensland independent MP Rob Messenger who helped lobby the government to bring
Patel to justice told AAP his former patients were disappointed but realistic about
the appeal process.
"They know we're one-third of the way through," he said.
"They know it's going to be unpleasant, every time it comes up in the media they are
always reminded of their experiences."
"There's still a fighting spirit within the group." Mr Messenger called on
Premier Anna Bligh to explain who would be paying for Patel's appeal; taxpayers or
Patel himself.
He also asked whether Patel's family members would be receiving an accommodation and
living expenses allowance during the appeal process.