US taxpayers won't fund Patel extradition fight

Patel has been behind bars in Portland, Oregon, since his arrest earlier this month.

Queensland authorities have charged him with three counts of manslaughter for allegedly botched operations at the Bundaberg Base Hospital between 2003 and 2005.

A US judge has today rejected Patel's bid to have a court-appointed lawyer fight his extradition.

Instead he has ruled the 57-year-old has a "sizeable" brokerage account and "significant" money in a retirement account and can pay for a private lawyer.

Meanwhile the judge has not ruled on whether to grant Patel bail while he waits for his extradition hearing next month.

Source: By Australian Broadcasting Corporation