An Indian-born American surgeon was returned to Australia on Monday to face manslaughter charges for what authorities say were botched or unnecessary operations that killed three people.

Patel, 58, was escorted without handcuffs by two Australian police officers on a Qantas Airways flight from Los Angeles to Brisbane. He had been in custody in Portland, Ore., since March 11 and late last month agreed to an extradition request by the Australian government.

He was expected to appear at a Brisbane court hearing later Monday to face three counts of manslaughter and other charges for grievous bodily harm and fraud. He faces up to life in prison if convicted of any of the manslaughter charges.

Patel’s return received blanket coverage by Australian media, which have dubbed him “Dr. Death.” News cars and helicopters followed a small police motorcade from the airport to cells in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland state.

His return came just over three years since he left Australia under far different circumstances _ with his business class airfare paid for by the Queensland health department.

Patel was hired at a hospital in Bundaberg, a sugar industry town of 47,000 about 190 miles north of Brisbane, but failed to disclose that he had been disciplined for negligence by medical boards in Oregon and New York, according to Australian authorities.

The department gave him a one-way ticket in April 2005, despite allegations being raised in Queensland’s legislature that he had been responsible for the death of at least one patient.

Patel was employed at Bundaberg Base Hospital from early 2003 to early 2005. In late 2003, he was promoted to director of surgery.

A government inquiry concluded that Patel may have contributed directly to 13 deaths due to an “unacceptable level of care” at the hospital, but he has not been formally charged in all those cases.

Judy Kemps, whose husband was one of Patel’s patients and died after being operated on in December 2004, said she was concerned about the upcoming criminal proceedings.

“I’m very apprehensive about it, but I’m very excited that ... at last he is here,” Kemps said.

Beryl Crosby, a spokeswoman for the Bundaberg Hospital Patients Support Group, said she would be in the courtroom later Monday when Patel was due to make an appearance.

“Obviously instant relief,” Crosby said of Patel’s return to Australia. “I sat through the whole commission of inquiry, and I’ve done it many times since.”

Television reports Monday quoted unnamed court officials as saying that Patel’s trial may not start for up to 18 months and that he was expected to apply for and be granted bail.