Don't know what to make of this...

**R13** · September 14th, 2010, 11:54 PM

Wow. lmao.

A California gynecologist is being sued for branding a patient's name on her uterus using an "electrocautery device."

Dr. Red Alinsod removed Ingrid Paulicivic's uterus during an operation at his Orange County office in 2006, according to the complaint posted on The Smoking Gun's website. The Laguna Beach doctor carved "Ingrid" on the organ, according to the site, because he "did not want to get it confused with others."

Alinsod told the site that labeling of body parts in that manner is not typical. But, he said, he "felt comfortable putting her name on the uterus" since the 47-year-old hairdresser was a "good friend."

Paulicivic's attorney, Devan Mullins, told CNN.com that his client did not know her physician before consulting him for the operation. Paulicivic and her husband learned of the branding during a follow-up visit, the lawyer said.

During that visit, Paulicivic complained to Alinsod about burns to her leg that she suffered during the operation, Mullins told CNN.com. The doctor was looking at images that were taken during the operation, and the couple asked for copies.

"Alinsod hesitated to give them the photos," the attorney said, sparking the couple's suspicion that something was wrong. The doctor told the couple that he didn't know how to copy the images, so the husband, who is a photographer, showed Alinsod how to move the images to a memory card, and the couple took them, Mullins said.

Later in the husband's office, the couple looked at the photos and were shocked to see "Ingrid" spelled out in inch-high letters on her uterus.

"They reacted like anyone would react - 'Oh my God, I cannot believe this happened,' " the lawyer said.

The couple hired Mullins, who tried for 90 days to notify Alinsod of an impending complaint, but the doctor did not react. "That's what's been odd - that we've gotten no response from him whatsoever," Mullins said.

CNN.com spoke with Alinsod's office manager Tuesday, who said that the physician was seeing patients and that he would not comment on the litigation.

According to Alinsod's website, he formerly headed gynecologic services at George Air Force Base in California and Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. He was affectionately called a "Combat Gynecologist" by his colleagues, it says.

Doctor sued for 'branding' patient's uterus – This Just In - CNN.com Blogs

**imported_elp6n** · September 15th, 2010, 12:20 AM

Perhaps I'm missing some details here, but I'm not seeing what the problem is.

She had her uterus removed. That's a hysterectomy.
You dont put them back in once you've had a hysterectomy.

I can only guess the uterus needed some form of testing after the hysterectomy, why else would it need to be 'identified' later.... although the method is quite unorthodox.

"They reacted like anyone would react - 'Oh my God, I cannot believe this happened,' " the lawyer said.

I can't say that would be my reaction. I would probably say "wonder why he did that."

Sounds like a sue-happy woman to me....

**1inStripes** · September 15th, 2010, 08:02 AM

There was a situation similiar to this just a couple of years ago, in Kentucky I believe. The doctor was a UK graduate and every uterus he took out he labeled with a UK logo before sending off to the labs for testing. Apparently all are marked before being sent off I guess. Apparently this patient was a big Louisville fan or something.

**1inStripes** · September 15th, 2010, 08:05 AM

Found an article on that.

He Loves UK; Her Uterus Doesn't

**Rocky** · September 15th, 2010, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by imported_elp6n

Perhaps I'm missing some details here, but I'm not seeing what the problem is.

She had her uterus removed. That's a hysterectomy.
You dont put them back in once you've had a hysterectomy.

I can only guess the uterus needed some form of testing after the hysterectomy, why else would it need to be 'identified' later.... although the method is quite unorthodox.

I can't say that would be my reaction. I would probably say "wonder why he did that."

Sounds like a sue-happy woman to me....

^ this, i dont see what the big deal was its not like she was oging to be using it anymore.

**centennialdawg** · September 15th, 2010, 08:28 AM

I agree, once it is removed, does it or does it not become the hospital's responsibility to test it for various diseases/cancers and then to destroy it? What is the big deal? It's not like she asked for it in a jar of formaldehyde to keep on her dresser or curio cabinet.