Officials on US 'Dr Death' hunt

LOS ANGELES - Queensland Premier Peter Beattie has arrived in the United States with a new and aggressive tactic to track down the elusive Jayant "Dr Death" Patel and pressure him into returning to Australia.

Beattie is sending two of his most senior officials to Portland, Oregon, where Patel is believed to be hiding, to conduct a media blitz with newspapers, radio and TV stations.

Beattie hopes to spread the word to Portland residents and US authorities about the serious allegations against Patel arising from the state's royal commission into his performance while working at a Bundaberg hospital.

"If we send a clear message then we believe we'll put appropriate pressure on him to return to Queensland," Beattie said at Los Angeles Airport yesterday.

Beattie will not travel to Portland.

He again ruled out granting Patel indemnity from prosecution if he agreed to return to Queensland to give evidence at the commission.

The Premier did not rule out attempting to extradite Patel if he refused to travel to Australia willingly.

"Extradition of an American citizen here in the United States is incredibly difficult," Beattie said. "There was a case in 2001 which makes it very hard to extradite US citizens.

"We know that, but are prepared to go down that road."

After yesterday's brief stopover in Los Angeles, Beattie flew to the east coast of the US for scheduled trade meetings and events. His director-general, Dr Leo Keliher, and State Development Minister and former police minister Tony McGrady will fly to Portland today.

No meetings have been set with Patel's lawyers or US authorities in Portland, but Keliher said he would be open to sitting down with lawyers if they contacted him.

The main priority is to speak to Portland media organisations.

Beattie said it was important Portland residents were aware of the commission's recommendations, including a murder charge, against Patel.

"We want the people of Portland, Oregon, and US authorities to be aware of that," Beattie said. "These are the recommendations of an independent royal commission and we are urging Dr Patel to return to Queensland to appear before a royal commission and give evidence.

"We believe he shouldn't practise in the United States until he has appeared before that royal commission ... We would urge authorities in the United States not to allow him to practise medicine."

Patel, dubbed Dr Death by his colleagues, fled Australia on April 1. He has been linked with 87 deaths at Bundaberg Base Hospital and now faces several charges including murder and fraud.

Beattie is on an 11-day tour of the US and Italy.

- AAP