Surgeon commits suicide after a surgery error - NDTV.com

London:  A leading British surgeon hanged himself after he made a minor clinical error during an operation, a media report said Wednesday.

Alexander Reading, one of Britain's leading orthopaedic and trauma surgeons, was a 'perfectionist', his colleagues said.

Reading "couldn't live with what he'd done" after the patient was left in a bad state following the operation, the Daily Mail reported.

His body was found suspended in the garage of his home in the hamlet of Grafton Flyford, Worcestershire.

A colleague of Reading, a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, said: "There are some strong rumours circulating that Alex was plagued with guilt over a patient's care."

"It's not clear what the mistake was or what happened to the patient but it must have been serious for Alex to do what he did."

Reading, 45, was a 'driven' man who put himself under huge pressure to succeed and took his mistakes very seriously, despite his exemplary record, his neighbours said.

Last year, he was awarded a level six in the Clinical Excellence Awards Scheme, which recognises NHS (National Health Service) consultants who perform 'over and above' the standard expected for their role, the Mail said.

For NDTV Updates, follow us on Twitter or join us on Facebook