We put a lot of trust in doctors to give us proper medical advice, and to treat us in a way that is both safe and ethical.
For instance, if you were to undergo surgery, you wouldn't expect your surgeon to, say, burn his initials into your organs.
Unfortunately, authorities say this is exactly what happened to two British patients undergoing liver transplants under the care of Dr. Simon Bramhall.
This very real story is proving that truth can often be stranger than fiction, and that movie-villain-type behavior can and does happen in real life.
Needless to say, initials are for bathroom stalls or contracts, not for living things like human organs.
Luckily, the crooked doctor has since been convicted of assault in court and will likely lose his right to practice medicine for good.
The lasting impact of this, though, is that this is more than enough to scare away anyone from going under the knife and trusting someone they had every reason to think was credible.
Thumbnail Photos: Twitter / David Vidcette // Pixnio / Forest Hills Urgent Care
[H/T: Washington Post]
Dr. Simon Bramhall is a 53-year-old surgeon who up until recently was considered to be one of the top professionals in his field.
According to reports, another doctor who was treating a patient who'd received a transplant from Dr. Bramhall made the discovery.
The patient's liver wasn't healing properly, and when she was opened up during a follow-up surgery, the surgeon noticed an unmistakable "S.B." on her organ.
The branding was allegedly done with an electrical beam that is usually used to seal blood vessels.
Under normal circumstances, the liver would have healed and the initials would not have been visible.
However, in this special case, the patient's complications are what brought to light the allegations.
On December 13, 2017, the doctor pleaded guilty to and was charged with two counts of assault.
Court experts have said the case was highly unusual and "without legal precedent in criminal law," according to The Telegraph.
Authorities say that Bramhall didn't just break the law, he also broke the hippocratic oath he and every other licensed doctor take when they begin practicing medicine.
The oath is a code of ethical conduct where doctors agree to "treat the ill, do the best of one's ability," and to "preserve a patient's privacy," among other things, according to MedicineNet.
Of course, the story was just too bizarre for the internet not to react.
As this Twitter user points out, branding your work isn't always a good idea.
Nor is it an appropriate way to promote yourself, your business, or your "work."
This Twitter user makes a good point about how initialing things is all fun and games until you do it to a liver.
Bramhall's assault charges are something he is going to have to live with for the rest of his life.
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