'Reincarnation of Jesus' surgeon suspended

NASHVILLE (UPI) -- A Tennessee surgeon's license was suspended for bizarre behavior including calling himself the "Son of God" and an alleged attack at the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

The Tennessee Board of Osteopathic Examination issued an emergency order Tuesday to suspend the license of Dr. Brett Bolton, a Brentwood hair transplant surgeon, due to concerns he could pose a threat to himself and to others.

The board heard Bolton has been displaying bizarre behavior recently, including operating a website proclaiming himself to be the "Son of God" and the reincarnation of Jesus Christ.

"Dr. Bolton's staff had been noticing changes in his behavior -- him doing strange things like believing he was Jesus Christ, dressing all in white and asking everybody if God asked them to kill someone would they do that," Devin Wells, an attorney for the Tennessee Department of Health, told The Tennessean.

Wells said Bolton met with a psychologist Sept. 15 and refused an ensuing recommendation that he be hospitalized for his mental health.

Ken Jones, an investigator for the state's health-related boards, met with Bolton and his staff Sept. 16 after employees reported the doctor's strange behavior. Jones said Bolton appeared to be in a manic state during their meeting.

Bolton traveled to New York the following day, where the board heard he allegedly assaulted a man at the 9/11 Memorial Museum and ended up in the psychiatric ward of Bellevue Hospital. Jones said Bolton attributed the attack to a message from God telling him the alleged victim was a pedophile.

Bolton was released from the hospital after two weeks when he refused to consent to further treatment.

Wells said investigators also discovered Bolton had failed to notify Tennessee officials of a federal conviction in Florida for 19 counts of misapplying money in a case involving a tribal casino. His license to practice medicine in Ohio was revoked in 2003 as a result of the conviction. However, Wells said Bolton's behavior was the only factor considered in the suspension.

Bolton, who has the right to appeal the board's decision within seven days, has performed hair transplants for high-profile celebrities including A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys.