Va fines doctor for bringing brain home

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (AP) - A Navy doctor who let his children handle the brain of a service member and his wife photograph the organ has been fined and faces disciplinary action.

The Virginian-Pilot (http://bit.ly/OBInOr) reported Friday that Dr. Mark E. Shelly was transporting the brain from a naval hospital in Camp Lejeune, N.C., to Portsmouth Naval Medical Center in December.

En route, he took the organ to his home to Virginia Beach and allowed his family to handle and photograph it, according to records with the Virginia Board of Medicine.

The board reprimanded Shelly last month and fined the osteopathic doctor $2,500.

A spokeswoman for Portsmouth Naval Medical Center said in an email that Shelly is awaiting final disposition of his case.

Shelly has acknowledged he used "extremely poor judgment."