Man threatened to cut out own tumour

HOSPITAL patient who became so agitated after a long wait he threatened to perform elective surgery on himself was a before a criminal court today.

Ian James Bool was booked in for surgery at the QEII Hospital in Brisbane's south to have a benign lump removed from his head but became upset after he waited 6½ hours without being operated on.

Prosecutor Carson Lloyd told the District Court in Brisbane at one stage Bool told a nurse: "Give me a scalpel and I'll cut the f------ thing out myself."

Mr Lloyd said Bool then began to pace up and down before going to the reception desk where he grabbed a box cutter.

Bool had extended the blade and waved it in the direction of a nearby doctor saying: "I'll f------ cut it off and you stitch it up."

Hospital security was called and Bool was escorted out.

Bool, 53, pleaded guilty to going armed in public to cause fear on June 28 last year.

Barrister Eon MacGiolla Ri, for Bool, said his client had waited 18 months for the surgery and had arrived at the hospital at 7am.

He said Bool had been fasting since the day before and was cold and hungry by 1.30pm.

Bool was also worried about his elderly mother who was waiting for him in a car outside.

Judge Terry Martin, SC, noted Bool had been placed on probation in February for other offences after spending 151 days on remand.

Defence barrister, Eoin Mac Giolla Ri, said his client had sat in the waiting room for several hours wearing nothing but a hospital gown.

He was also hungry after fasting since the previous day, and had become frustrated that other patients were being seen before him.

He said his client was bipolar and hypermanic, and was vulnerable to impulsive acts.

Bool was escorted from the hospital by security after the incident, and is still waiting to have the growth removed.

Bool pleaded guilty today to one count of going armed to cause fear.

He was sentenced to six months' probation, and ordered to undergo psychiatric treatment as required.