Museum to show live heart op

A row has broken out over plans to broadcast a live heart bypass operation.

The event, scheduled to take place at the Science Museum's Dana Centre next Thursday, is described by organisers as 'educational'.

But medical experts have dismissed the screening as a publicity stunt and warn that it could seriously disturb viewers, and terrify patients waiting for the procedure.

The heart bypass will be performed in a hospital in New Jersey. It will be beamed, live, to huge video screens at the Dana Centre in Kensington, which is open to the public.

Surgeons will wear microphonesand will answer questions-throughout the procedure, which is expected to last around three hours.

Belinda Linden, a cardiac nurse with the British Heart Foundation, said she feared heart patients would be shocked by the procedure.

She said: 'We are very worried for the patient - having a surgeon talking through the operation means he can't be giving his full attention to the patient.

'I think people could also well be shocked by the brutality of the beginning of the procedure, when the ribs are spread apart.

'You could argue that there are health benefits to this, but I think people may well find it very disturbing.

'There is also the worry people will just turn up to see gore.'

Tim McElroy, who has organised several similar events in America and will be at the London event, admitted that some members of the audience had been sickened by the procedure.

'We found people who have had the operation are most affected, but most cope well - I think there is far less blood than people expect, and we do have a delay on the broadcast in case anything should go wrong.

'Only a couple have walked out so far. I think people have a deep fascination with their own bodies and that's why they come along.'