SBS drama Doctor X: The Age of the White Mafia, starring Kim Ji Won and Jang Seung Jo, has drawn attention after a medical scene reminded viewers of a real incident involving a British surgeon who marked patients' organs with his initials.
The comparison emerged following the drama's fourth episode, which aired on October 17. The episode introduced a mysterious detail involving a patient's liver, raising questions about a doctor's past medical decisions.
While the scene is part of a fictional storyline, it bears similarities to a documented case in the United Kingdom involving former surgeon Simon Bramhall.
In the drama, Kim Ji Won plays Gye Soo Jung, a doctor who becomes involved in a complicated medical case connected to Na Dae Il, played by Jang Seung Jo.
During an emergency operation, Gye Soo Jung discovers the letters "D.N" marked on a patient's liver. The discovery raises questions about an earlier operation and the circumstances surrounding it.
The series has not yet fully explained the meaning of the markings, leaving the mystery open for future episodes.
However, the unusual medical detail has attracted particular attention because something similar happened in real life.
The real-life case dates back to 2013, when British transplant surgeon Simon Bramhall marked his initials on the livers of two patients during operations at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
Bramhall used an argon beam coagulator, a surgical instrument normally used to control bleeding, to leave the letters "SB" on the transplanted organs.
The markings were discovered when another surgeon performed a follow-up operation on one of the patients after a transplanted liver failed.
The discovery eventually led to criminal proceedings against Bramhall.
In December 2017, he pleaded guilty to two counts of assault. In January 2018, a British court sentenced him to a 12-month community order, required him to complete 120 hours of unpaid work, and imposed a fine of £10,000.
The case also led to professional consequences. In January 2022, Bramhall was removed from the UK's medical register following a review of his conduct.
The incident raised concerns about medical ethics, patient consent, and the responsibility of doctors to respect patients' rights during surgical procedures.
The similarities between the British case and the storyline in Doctor X: The Age of the White Mafia have prompted speculation that the drama may have drawn inspiration from the real incident.
However, there has been no confirmed statement from the drama's production team establishing that the storyline was directly based on Bramhall's case.
While the fictional story continues to explore the mystery surrounding the markings, the real incident serves as a reminder of the importance of professional ethics and patient trust in healthcare.
The connection has added another point of interest to Doctor X, with Kim Ji Won and Jang Seung Jo's medical drama drawing attention beyond its fictional hospital setting.
