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Simon Bramhall, 53,carved his initials on the LIVERS of two transplant patients in first assault case of its kind. The surgeon has admitted carving his initials on the LIVERS of two transplant patients during surgery.

Simon Bramhall, 53, pleaded guilty to assault by beating after marking ‘SB’ onto the organs of the anaesthetised patients in what is believed to be first case of its kind in British criminal history.

court heard how he used an argon beam coagulator to carry out the bizarre assaults at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital in 2013.

Today the transplant surgeon – who worked on the hospital’s liver unit for 12 years – admitted the charges at Birmingham Crown Court.

He denied two other counts of assault occasioning bodily harm – a plea which was accepted by prosecutors.

Simon Bramhall, 53, pleaded guilty to assault by beating after marking ‘SB’ onto the organs of the anaesthetised patients (Image: SWNS.com)

 

A judge heard how his actions – which required “some skill and concentration” – had not just been ethically wrong and an abuse of trust but had also broken the law.

Mr Badenoch added: “This has been a highly unusual and complex case, both within the expert medical testimony served by both sides and in the law.

“It’s factually, so far as we are able to establish, without legal precedent in criminal law.

“The position now reached is that Simon Bramhall, employed at the time as a consultant surgeon in Birmingham, beat two of his patients, as reference to his plea, whilst they were undergoing liver transplant surgery.

“The pleas of guilty now entered represent an acceptance that that which he did was not just ethnically wrong, but criminally wrong.

“They reflect the fact that Bramhall’s initialing on a patient’s liver was not an isolated incident but a repeated act on two occasions some skill and concentration in the presence of colleagues.

“They were carried out with a disregard for the feelings of an unconscious patient.

“It was an unlawful application of force to patients anaesthetised.

“It was an abuse of the trust put in him by both patients.

“His acts in marking the livers of those patients were deliberate and conscious acts on his part.

“Suffice to say for current purpose these pleas meet the broad public interest in this case.

“Mr Bramhall has my assurance with instructions from the CPS that – assuming nothing further arises between now and then that we not know about – we will not seek to put forward any further evidence.”

Bramhall, of Redditch, Worcestershire, was granted unconditional bail to appear for sentencing at the same court on January 12 next year.

The liver, spleen and pancreatic consultant surgeon looked on emotionless throughout the 20 minute hearing, wearing a black suit and pink shirt, and was allowed to stand outside the dock.

Judge Paul Farrer QC, told him: “Simon Bramhall, for reasons that you are aware of, I will not sentence you today.

“The prosecution need to do further work.

“Your legal team need to do further work and I also take the view that there should be a pre-sentence report on you so that I can sentence you on January 12.

“I give you one single warning, that if you do fail to attend without legitimate reason on January 12, you will commit a separate offence.”

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.

He was also previously involved in tutoring and examining medical students and supervising postgraduate students in higher degrees, management and research.

In 2010 Kate Jakes – then 18 – told how her life was saved by the donor liver snatched from the wreckage of a burning plane.

Just weeks before Kate – who has never touched alcohol – was told she had the liver of a chronic alcoholic and given 72 hours to live and put on the transplant list.

Amazingly the Cessna burst into flames on landing on November 19, but rescuers found the organ still in its ice box and – as police closed roads – it was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Just 45 minutes later surgeons began transplanting the liver into Kate.

Bramhall said at the time: “The box was covered in soot and petrol and foam, but inside the liver was pristine, so I decided to go ahead with the surgery.”

Tragically eight days later the liver died in Kate’s body meaning that once again she had just hours to live.

Dad Mike, 45, a lorry driver, said at the time: “We were told to say goodbye.”

She then went on to have a further two transplants throughout her life, but tragically she passed away at the age of 22 as she waited for a fourth.

She documented her transplant journey on a blog and in turn inspired others to sign up to the donor register.

Her husband Gareth paid tribute to his wife and ‘princess’ earlier, saying: “Kate you have and always will be my princess and the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love you to the end of time and back, you’re at peace now with grandad, nan and ampie!”

 

 

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