When the OR Becomes a Crime Scene

2.3.2022

As a seasoned criminal defense lawyer and litigator for more than 25 years, with significant experience representing clients in the healthcare field, I thought I had heard it all. However, when I saw the headlines and read the reporting about this case involving criminal behavior by a celebrated surgeon from the United Kingdom, even I was surprised. “It was something he said he did to relieve stress during long, difficult transplant operations.” The “it” was using a surgical electric beam, known as an argon beam coagulator, to carve his initials into the organs of a patient who was in the midst of organ transplant surgery, and the “he” refers to British Dr. Simon Bramhall, the surgeon who performed the transplant surgery.  As reported in the Washington Post, another surgeon who operated on the same patient a week later made the gruesome discovery, and an investigation revealed that Dr. Bramhall had done the same thing to another patient.  He was convicted of assault and fined, with the sentencing judge remarking that “[t]his was conduct born of professional arrogance of such magnitude that it strayed into criminal behavior . . . [w]hat you did was an abuse of power and a betrayal of trust that these patients had invested in you.”  The conduct also resulted in Dr. Bramhall being stripped of his license to practice medicine by licensing authorities.

The concept of a physician inscribing his initials apparently held some allure for Dr. Bramhall, who coauthored several works of fiction known as “Scalpel Stories.”  In one of the books, a surgeon is exposed for inscribing his initials on a donor liver during a lifesaving transplant operation, and the fictional surgeon’s life becomes upended. 

Surgeons rightly should be proud of their often heroic and lifesaving efforts in treating their patients, and sometimes need to relieve the stress that accompanies lifesaving efforts.  But please resist the urge to be an operating room Zorro.  Otherwise, you will undoubtedly need to contact one of the experienced lawyers at Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer.

BLOG DISCLAIMER

The postings on this blog were created for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice or a solicitation to provide legal services.  Although we attempt to ensure that the postings are complete, accurate, and current as of the time of publication, we assume no responsibility for their completeness, accuracy, or timeliness.  The information in this blog is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship.  Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional legal counsel.

This blog may contain links to independent third party websites and services, including social media. We provide these links for your convenience, and you access them at your own risk.  We have no control over and do not monitor the content or policies (including privacy policies) of these third-party websites and have no responsibility for, and no liability with respect to, their content, accuracy, or reliability.  Unless expressly stated, we do not endorse any of the linked websites or any product, service, or publication referenced herein or therein.  We will remove a link to any site from this blog upon request of the linked entity.

We grant permission to readers to link to this blog so long as this blog is not misrepresented. This site is not sponsored or associated with any other site unless so identified.

If you wish for Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A., to consider representing you, please obtain contact information from the Contact Us area of this blog or go to the firm’s website at www.wilentz.com.  One of our lawyers will be happy to discuss the possibility of representation with you. However, the authors of Wilentz blogs are licensed only in New Jersey and/or New York and do not wish to represent anyone who viewed this site in a state where the site fails to comply with all laws and ethical rules of that state.

Sign Up

Darren M. Gelber Photo

Darren M. Gelber
Chair, Criminal Law Team
Shareholder
732.855.6006