Boo Radley Posted December 25, 2013 Report Share Posted December 25, 2013 British surgeon Simon Bramhall suspended for his 'branding initials on liver' Transplant surgeon Mr Simon Bramhall is accused of branding a patient's liver with his initials. A BRITISH surgeon has been suspended over allegations he "branded'' his initials onto a patient's liver, media reported on Tuesday. Simon Bramhall faces an investigation after a colleague discovered the initials "SB'' on the organ during a follow-up operation at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, central England, newspapers said. The 48-year-old consultant has held his position at the hospital for over a decade, sparking fears the surgeon may have similarly branded hundreds of other transplant, reports UK paper Metro. A source said: "It is quite astonishing to think someone may have done this, especially someone as experienced at Mr Bramhall. "I am hoping this is just a mistake, I don’t know what would possess someone to do that to another human being. "I’m just a little shocked that something like this may have happened right under everyone’s noses. "It could have happened hundreds of times, who knows? It was just luck that this incident was brought to light." The hospital's managing trust said in a statement: "Following an allegation of misconduct, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has suspended a surgeon while an internal investigation is completed.'' The Daily Mail newspaper said Bramhall used non-toxic argon gas to sear his initials onto the liver. When initially approached Mr Bramhall, from Redditch, Worcestershire, denied he was suspended. http://www.news.com....d-1226789587164 (24/12/13) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted December 25, 2013 Report Share Posted December 25, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sayjann Posted December 26, 2013 Report Share Posted December 26, 2013 British surgeon Simon Bramhall suspended for his 'branding initials on liver' Transplant surgeon Mr Simon Bramhall is accused of branding a patient's liver with his initials. A BRITISH surgeon has been suspended over allegations he "branded'' his initials onto a patient's liver, media reported on Tuesday. Simon Bramhall faces an investigation after a colleague discovered the initials "SB'' on the organ during a follow-up operation at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, central England, newspapers said. The 48-year-old consultant has held his position at the hospital for over a decade, sparking fears the surgeon may have similarly branded hundreds of other transplant, reports UK paper Metro. A source said: "It is quite astonishing to think someone may have done this, especially someone as experienced at Mr Bramhall. "I am hoping this is just a mistake, I don’t know what would possess someone to do that to another human being. "I’m just a little shocked that something like this may have happened right under everyone’s noses. "It could have happened hundreds of times, who knows? It was just luck that this incident was brought to light." The hospital's managing trust said in a statement: "Following an allegation of misconduct, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has suspended a surgeon while an internal investigation is completed.'' The Daily Mail newspaper said Bramhall used non-toxic argon gas to sear his initials onto the liver. When initially approached Mr Bramhall, from Redditch, Worcestershire, denied he was suspended. http://www.news.com....d-1226789587164 (24/12/13) i've heard similar stories like this over the 30 odd years i spent working in the NHS. all rumour of course,but i know a friend of mine left some kind of memento on certain patients,i watched her do it once. nothing nasty/unpleasant/disfiguring or disgusting of course,in fact nothing to be seen to the naked eye. but would have caused much anguish to the patient i imagine if they had known. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unit731 Posted December 26, 2013 Report Share Posted December 26, 2013 Doesn't make him a bad doctor, does it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted December 27, 2013 Report Share Posted December 27, 2013 Hi, Yeah, with unit731 on this. Sure, it's a bit weird, but I don't see what the big deal is. Sanuk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Radley Posted December 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2013 This story seemed to split readers. For me, it shows a total lack of respect for the patient, the original organ donor and their family. Wonder how many patients he's done this to already? Classic example of an arrogant doctor with a God complex and a clear demonstration of the need to check the empathetic capacity of applicants for medical college. The sad thing is that a liver transplant operation involves a large team in the operating theatre who would have been aware of this surgeon "showing off" and yet none spoke out. Good that a colleague finally had the courage to bring the matter to light, although I've heard sadly it's usually career suicide to do so and the whistle blower may well end up having to move hospital. Can't see how this surgeon can work again, in this field at least, even with supervision. Every patient Googling him before a transplant will turn up this story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted December 28, 2013 Report Share Posted December 28, 2013 My mother's father died at age 69, and his doctor told my grandmother that it shouldn't have happened. "It was bungled surgery." She spoke to him later after he'd have time to think, and he completely denied ever having said that. It isn't wise to criticise others in the medical profession. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dean Posted December 28, 2013 Report Share Posted December 28, 2013 Not with Americans sue crazy and the high malpractice insurance rates and judgments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Munchmaster Posted December 28, 2013 Report Share Posted December 28, 2013 Did he use a branding iron? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Radley Posted December 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2013 As I understood it he used a high tech version of that, an argon laser, which is used to cauterize blood vessels and stop bleeding but also has the effect of being able to sear body tissue, leaving behind scar tissue ie his graffiti tag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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