A Beverly Hills plastic surgeon that created "lipo-diesel", a fuel from his patient's fat is in trouble with the authorities. Craig Alan Bittner apparently used this biodiesel to fuel his Ford SUV and his girlfriend's Lincoln Navigator. California state law forbids the use of human medical waste to power vehicles and Bittner is being investigated by the state's public health department in this regard said California public health officials.

Fat whether animal or vegetable, contains triglycerides that can be extracted and turned into diesel. Animal fats need to undergo an additional step to eliminate free fatty acids which are not present in vegetable oils. Jenna Higgins of the National Biodiesel Board said a gallon of grease gives a gallon of fuel with the same mileage that you get from conventional diesel.

Bittner wrote on lipodiesel. com, which is no longer online to say that by using the "lipo-diesel" he was trying to be environmentally friendly. "The vast majority of my patients request that I use their fat for fuel -- and I have more fat than I can use. Not only do they get to lose their love handles or chubby belly but they get to take part in saving the earth."

Its unclear how and when Bittner started making "lipo-diesel" though his activities came to light when three of his patients filed lawsuits against him which allege that his assistant and girlfriend performed surgeries without a medical license and that they removed more fat than was necessary which resulted in them getting disfigured. His practice Beverly Hills Liposculpture, closed in November and his website said Bittner has moved to South America to do volunteer work at a clinic. The attorney for the patients suing Bittner suspects he fled the country because of the investigations. Dozens of other patients have complained about Bittner to the state medical board which has not made any official comment.