Indian-Origin Doctor Who Drove Tesla Off Cliff With Family Banned From Practicing Medicine In US

A 41-year-old Indian-origin doctor, Dharmesh A Patel, has been barred from practicing medicine by a US court. This decision comes as he faces multiple attempted murder charges for a tragic incident in California.

In January, Patel, a radiologist, was charged with three counts of murder after intentionally driving a Tesla off a cliff with his wife and two children in the vehicle.

San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Rachel Holt approved a motion by the Medical Board of California to prevent Patel from practicing medicine.

The motion specifically aimed to ensure this restriction even if Patel were to be released on bail.

The decision was made during a hearing earlier this week, as reported by The Mercury News.

The regulators termed the move necessary while arguing in court filings this week. Mr. Patel represented "an alarming danger to the public" in light of an "impairment of cognitive abilities needed to practice medicine safely," the newspaper reported.

"Public protection, therefore, requires that the defendant be prohibited from practicing medicine throughout the pendency" of his criminal case, the medical board's motion said.

Regulators also cited comments made by Mr. Patel's wife after her rescue. She told an emergency worker that Patel "did it on purpose," adding later that "he drove off," the report said.

"He's depressed," said Mr. Patel's wife, according to court documents. "He's a doctor. He said he was going to drive off the cliff. He purposely drove off," she said.

Mr. Patel, a resident of Pasadena, California, has been held in custody without bail at the San Mateo County jail following his arrest.

He is suspected of deliberately driving his family off a cliff near Devil's Slide along Highway 1, resulting in a 250-foot plunge onto a rocky beach.

Despite the charges, Mr. Patel pleaded not guilty and explained, claiming that their Tesla experienced tire issues.

Agencies

According to his statement to investigators, he made three stops at gas stations that day on his way to the Devil's Slide area to fill the air in his left-rear tire. The crash caused injuries to Mr. Patel's leg and foot, while his wife sustained more severe injuries.

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Their 4-year-old child escaped with bruises, while their 7-year-old child suffered more severe injuries but was released from the hospital within a month following the incident.

The report said a preliminary hearing set for this week was delayed while attorneys continued to review evidence in the case.

The gravity of this case has gripped the public's attention, highlighting the importance of a fair and thorough investigation into the events that led to this heartbreaking incident.

(With PTI inputs)

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