Inquest to examine death of Brighton patient after investigative surgery
77 year-old Arthur Brooke Craig died on June 26 last year at the Royal Sussex Hospital
Last updated 24th Sep 2025
An inquest will be held into the death of a hospital patient who died after undergoing investigative surgery which may not have been appropriate.
Arthur Brooke Craig, 77, of Brighton, died on June 26 last year at the Royal Sussex Hospital, after he had investigative intestinal surgery on June 14.
The colorectal surgeon responsible for his surgery, Marc Lamah, was reportedly banned from working for private healthcare company Nuffield Health after an investigation into patient safety, but continues to practice in the NHS.
On Wednesday, Coroner Gareth Jones told West Sussex Coroners Court during a pre-inquest review: "This is a case about the appropriateness of surgery."
Mr Craig was admitted to hospital after attending A&E on May 28 2024 and is thought to have died of a perforated bowel just under a month later.
Whether he had the capacity to make medical decisions, what caused the perforation and whether Mr Lamah should have asked for a second opinion on the potentially risky surgery will be key questions during the inquest.
"It's not one thing that's happened, it's a series of things that may have happened and may have gone wrong," said Emma Corkill, representing Mr Craig's family.
A two-day inquest will be scheduled to take place early next year.