Indiana’s former top utility regulator is asking the state appeals court to head off his trial on official misconduct charges because he is undergoing treatment for a life-threatening bone marrow disease.

David Lott Hardy was indicted in December on charges that as chairman of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission he allowed the agency’s top lawyer to keep overseeing cases involving Duke Energy even though he knew the attorney was trying to land a job at the utility company.

The Indianapolis Star reports (http://indy.st/SoCNWM ) Hardy’s doctor says in court documents that Hardy has made more than 20 clinical visits during the past two years, involving numerous blood transfusions. Hardy’s attorney says a trial would hurt his health.

The Marion County prosecutor’s office says it will continue to push for a trial.

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Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com