Navy doctor fined for letting his children handle Marine’s brain

A Navy pathologist was disciplined for allowing his children and wife to handle the brain of a dead Marine, records show.

Commander Mark Shelly admitted to the Virginia Board of Medicine that he had mishandled the brain while delivering it from Camp Lejeune, N.C., to Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia.

The Associated Press said Shelly confirmed that he had shown "poor judgment" in taking the brain home to show his children and let his wife take pictures of it.

The Navy had not decided on what further discipline should be taken but had already fine the doctor $2,500, reported the Virginian Pilot.

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It was not clear how the Marine died but authorities said that the incident would not make it more difficult to determine the cause of death.

Shelly, who was 41-years-old, was commissioned into the Navy in 1994, according to the Associated Press.

In a letter to the board, he said he regretted his actions and was sorry to the deceased's family.