UK surgeon suspended for branding patient’s liver with argon gas

A Birmingham-based surgeon has been suspended for allegedly branding his initials with a beam of argon gas, which is used to seal blood vessels, on the liver of a patient he operated on.

A Birmingham-based surgeon has been suspended for allegedly branding his initials with a beam of argon gas on the liver of a patient he operated on.

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The University Hospitals Birmingham Trust did not name the surgeon, but he has been named in media reports as Simon Bramhall, 48. He branded his initials, ‘SB’, on the patient with argon gas, which is used to seal blood vessels.

University Hospitals Birmingham Nhs Foundation Trust confirmed it was looking in to the matter.

"Following an allegation of misconduct, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has suspended a surgeon while an internal investigation is completed,” it said.

Joyce Robins, of campaign group Patient Concern, said: "This is a patient we are talking about, not an autograph book."

The investigation into the allegation may reveal if more than one patient was similarly branded.

Bramhall reportedly worked at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for more than 10 years.