Radiologist who drove his family off a cliff cleared to leave jail

On Monday, a judge cleared Dharmesh Patel, 43, to be released from jail after it was determined in June that the best course of action for the radiologist would be to take part in a mental health diversion program. 

Patel was previously charged with three counts of attempted murder—one for each of the passengers in the vehicle when he sent it plunging off a 250-foot cliff—but those charges will be dismissed if he successfully completes his treatment.  

In June, San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Susan Jakubowski made the decision that Patel was eligible for California's mental health diversion program. This came after hearing testimony from multiple mental health professionals, both in support of and against sending Patel to treatment, and the radiologist’s spouse. 

Patel’s wife initially told authorities that her husband drove their family off the cliff on purpose, that he said he was going to do so and that he had been experiencing a depressive episode prior to the accident. However, she later came to his defense, telling the court that her husband was facing “a mental health episode beyond any of our understanding or control” at the time of the accident. Her family missed him dearly and had suffered great emotional pain in his absence, she said.  

As part of the program, Patel will undergo two years of intensive psychiatric treatment, led by the head of Stanford University’s forensic psychiatric fellowship. It will involve frequent therapy sessions with numerous mental health professionals. 

During his time in treatment, Patel will live with his parents and wear a GPS tracking device. He is not to see or speak to his wife or children and is not permitted to leave San Mateo County for any reason outside of treatment purposes until he completes the program.