A California gynecologist is facing a medical malpractice lawsuit after he burned the name of his patient onto her uterus. The doctor had just performed a hysterectomy on the patient. While she was still under general anesthesia, the doctor used an electrocautery device to burn the name onto the uterus.

The patient did not realize what the doctor had done until a later office visit. The doctor showed her photographs of her uterus that were taken by someone in the operating room. The patient's name was about an inch tall and five inches wide on her uterus. The doctor said his actions were a "gesture of friendship."

The woman, who claims she was burned on her leg by the electrocautery device, filed suit against the doctor in Superior Court of California in Orange County on September 3. Her lawsuit characterizes the doctor's actions as a "gross departure from the known and accepted methods." She is seeking damages for pain, scarring and emotional trauma.

The woman's attorney believes that the doctor removed the uterus and set it on the woman's lap before he began writing on it with the device. He asserts that fluids seeped through and burned the woman every time the doctor wrote a letter. The woman's scar on her leg measures two inches in diameter.

The doctor told The Smoking Gun website that he considered his actions to be appropriate because he considered the woman a "good friend." Further, the doctor said he wanted to make sure her uterus did not get confused with others.

Apparently, this is not the first time a doctor made a bizarre mark on a patient. A Kentucky surgeon was sued by ten women in 2003 for branding "UK" on their uteruses, standing for his alma mater, the University of Kentucky. A New Jersey doctor placed a temporary rose tattoo next to his spine surgery patient's vagina. These doctors asserted they were trying to have some fun.

Source: Outpatient Surgery Magazine "Surgeon Brands Patient's Name Into Uterus After Hysterectomy" 9/17/10