GP 'used penknife to remove pacemaker'

Dr Krishnamurthy is on indefinite leave

A GP is being investigated by police after claims that he removed a pacemaker from a dead woman's heart using a penknife.

It is alleged that he had originally asked for a carving knife to enable him to remove the device.

Dr Arepalli Krishnamurthy is alleged to have removed the pacemaker from Edna Everson, 81, at her home in Bramhall, Stockport.

When our funeral director arrived he found that there was an open wound and the pacemaker had been removed

Ben Lloyd, undertakers

According to police, Dr Krishnamurthy was called to Mrs Everson's house on 20 August to certify her death.

She is understood to have died after a long illness.

Dr Krishnamurthy is alleged to have asked Mrs Everson's daughter Jennifer, 55, for a carving knife to enable him to remove the pacemaker.

He apparently decided against using the carving knife and instead obtained a penknife from Mrs Everson's neighbour.

Wearing surgical gloves, it's alleged, he opened Mrs Everson's chest with the penknife and removed the pacemaker.

He left the knife, his surgical gloves and the pacemaker on Mrs Everson's bed-side table before leaving.

Jennifer Everson is said to have been left upset and bewildered by the conduct of the doctor. She said she thought it was "insensitive".

Dr Krishnamurthy, 56, who practises at Higher Hillgate in Stockport, is now on indefinite leave pending a full police inquiry.

The police were asked to investigate the case by south Manchester coroner John Pollard.

Open wound

The incident was brought to the coroner's attention by a local undertaker who had noticed an open wound in Mrs Everson's chest.

Pacemakers are radioactive and can explode during cremation.

They are usually removed at the mortuary from people who are due to be cremated, as was the case with Mrs Everson.

A spokesman for Ben Lloyd, the undertakers, said: "When our funeral director arrived he found that there was an open wound and the pacemaker had been removed.

"The normal procedure is for pacemakers to be removed at the funeral home once the death certification has been issued."

Two years ago, Dr Krishnamurthy was given a warning by the General Medical Council on a different aspect of his medical practice.

The GMC may now consider investigating this second incident and the GP could be disciplined.

Peter Milnes, chief executive of Stockport Health Authority, said the case was being reviewed.

"The facts of the matter are not in dispute. Dr Krishnamurthy has been interviewed.

"The matter has been referred to the GP panel who will be reviewing the case and making recommendations to the health authority next week. They will then decide what to do.

"In the meantime, he is not seeing patients. An experienced locum has taken his place."

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said officers would be drawing up a report.

"We have been directed by the coroner to make inquiries on his behalf into the incident. We are doing so.

"The full details will be reported back to the coroner and the health authority."

Dr Krishnamurthy was unavailable for comment.