Surgeon accused of branding initials on patients’ livers 

Medicopolitical

By Tessa Hoffman

30 Nov 2017

A surgeon accused of branding his initials on his patients’ livers during transplants has been charged by UK police.

Consultant surgeon Simon Bramhall, 53, is alleged to have used an argon beam to burn ‘SB’ onto the livers of the two patients during the operations at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, West Midlands, in 2013, according to a report in The Independent.

He has been charged with two counts of causing actual bodily harm to the male and female patients.

The argon beam coagulator is used to stop bleeding during liver resection.

The alleged crimes came to light after the female patient’s liver did not heal itself in the normal manner and the initials were found in a follow-up operation.

The liver, spleen and pancreatic surgeon had worked at the hospital’s liver unit for 12 years.

Dr Bramhall, of Redditch, Worcestershire, was also involved in tutoring and examining medical students and supervising postgraduate students.

Dr Bramhall denies both charges and is due to appear at Birmingham Crown Court next month.

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