India, Nov. 14 -- Indian-origin surgeon Jayant Patel, who was convicted of the manslaughter of three Australian patients, said he "completely forgot" about the trauma and fatalities he caused over 20 years ago. He reacted in what was his first public comment since 2015 after a journalist confronted him in the US about what happened in Bundaberg almost two decades ago.

He was jailed in 2010 for causing three deaths, but he was freed on appeal in 2012.

When a journalist from The Australian approached him in Portland, Oregon, he said, "It was ages ago, and I completely forgot about it, and I'm beyond that."

The now 75-year-old reportedly added, "That's done, that's history . I don't react to stupid criticisms, I'm (moved) on with my life....