He Did What?

One of the big problems for many workers today in this age of automation is conditions where work is repetitive and boring. Working on an assembly line can be maddening. There is no chance for the worker to show ingenuity, creativity or to show leadership. It's understandable.  But one would think that condition would be limited to repetitive jobs. Well, it's not.  A British surgeon has admitted assaulting two patients by burning his initials into their livers during transplant operations.

Simon Bramhall pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of assault, in a case a prosecutor called “without legal precedent in criminal law.” Simple Simon the surgeon used an argon beam coagulator, which seals bleeding blood vessels with an electric beam, to mark his initials on the organs. Hmmm It's not likely the patient would have a look at the initials or even know about it. Maybe Simon was bored? He won't be bored anymore, at least for awhile. The 53-year-old surgeon resigned from Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham when after another doctor discovered of what he'd done.

The odd thing is that Simon is a renowned surgeon, highly regarded in the profession for his skills in the operating room. But he has initialized patients before, being suspended one other time for. I am not a physician, but I think that scorching the surface if the liver damages it to some degree. It is not only a vital organ, but a delicate one.

Simon is free on bail but will be sentenced Jan. 12 at Birmingham Crown Court in central England.
Let's hope the judge isn't bored that day and burns into Simon's flesh the court's decision.