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Liver surgeon Simon Bramhall marked initials on patients | Liver surgeon Simon Bramhall marked initials on patients |
(35 minutes later) | |
A surgeon who marked his initials on the livers of two transplant patients has admitted assault by beating. | A surgeon who marked his initials on the livers of two transplant patients has admitted assault by beating. |
Simon Bramhall, 53, committed the offences at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital in February and August 2013. | Simon Bramhall, 53, committed the offences at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital in February and August 2013. |
The liver, spleen and pancreas surgeon was suspended later that year. | The liver, spleen and pancreas surgeon was suspended later that year. |
He pleaded guilty to two charges at Birmingham Crown Court and will be sentenced at the same court on 12 January. | He pleaded guilty to two charges at Birmingham Crown Court and will be sentenced at the same court on 12 January. |
He denied the more serious charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm - a plea which was accepted by prosecutors. | He denied the more serious charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm - a plea which was accepted by prosecutors. |
Surface burn | |
Tony Badenoch QC said the case was "without legal precedent in criminal law". | Tony Badenoch QC said the case was "without legal precedent in criminal law". |
Bramhall, who came to attention in 2010 when he transplanted a liver saved from a burning aircraft into a patient, was suspended when the branding was discovered by another surgeon. | Bramhall, who came to attention in 2010 when he transplanted a liver saved from a burning aircraft into a patient, was suspended when the branding was discovered by another surgeon. |
Liver surgeons use an argon beam to stop livers bleeding, but can also use it to burn the surface of the liver to sketch out the area of an operation. | Liver surgeons use an argon beam to stop livers bleeding, but can also use it to burn the surface of the liver to sketch out the area of an operation. |
It is not believed to have been harmful to the liver and the marks normally disappear. | It is not believed to have been harmful to the liver and the marks normally disappear. |
In one case it appears the organ was already damaged and as a result did not heal itself in the normal manner, allowing the marks to be seen. | In one case it appears the organ was already damaged and as a result did not heal itself in the normal manner, allowing the marks to be seen. |
'Disregard for feelings' | |
Mr Badenoch said it had been a "highly unusual and complex case, both within the expert medical testimony served by both sides and in law." | |
He said what Bramhall had done was not isolated and required "some skill and concentration". | |
"It was done in the presence of colleagues," he said. | |
His actions were carried out "with a disregard for the feelings of unconscious patients", the prosecutor added. | |
Bramhall resigned after a disciplinary hearing with University Hospitals Birmingham Foundation Trust in May 2014. | Bramhall resigned after a disciplinary hearing with University Hospitals Birmingham Foundation Trust in May 2014. |
Speaking to the BBC after his suspension he admitted he had made "a mistake". | Speaking to the BBC after his suspension he admitted he had made "a mistake". |