A doctor who carved his initials on a patient's abdomen has been arrested and charged in New York.

Dr Alan Zarkin used his scalpel to carve his initials on the stomach of Liana Gedz.

He said he believed the caesarean section he had performed on her was a work of art worthy of signing.

"I did such a beautiful job, I will initial it," Dr Zarkin told hospital workers in the delivery room.

Dr Zarkin has already lost his medical licence over the incident.

Brain disease

Dr Zarkin pleaded innocent to two counts of assault and was released without bail and a hearing was scheduled for 14 March.

He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

Barry Fallick, Dr Zarkin's lawyer, admits that his client carved the letters AZ on Ms Geds' abdomen.

But he says his client is not responsible because he suffers from a brain disease that impairs his judgement. "He never meant to hurt her," he said.

Ms Gedz is suing Dr Zarkin for $5m and she asked prosecutors to spare him.

Investigation

But the Manhattan District Attorney, Robert Morgenthau, says that Zarkin's assault indictment "is not a private lawsuit".

"This is a public prosecution. When someone commits a serious crime, it's brought by the state of New York, not by an individual," he said.

Mr Morgenthau also said there was an ongoing investigation looking into other patients Dr Zarkin treated, and whether there was other criminal activity.

The hospital where he worked, the Beth Israel Medical Centre, has been fined $14,000 dollars (about £9,000).