A leading north Essex psychiatrist today revealed how he helped a man who wanted his healthy leg cut off.

Dr Richard Fox, a former senior consultant psychiatrist at Severalls Hospital in Colchester, first saw Kevin Wright in 1991.

Mr Wright, of Bromley Road, Ardleigh, had since the age of eight been battling with a pathological desire to have his left leg surgically removed.

His wish was finally granted in 1997 when surgeon Robert Smith carried out the operation privately in a Scottish hospital.

Dr Fox, 71, who is now retired and lives in West Mersea, gave Mr Wright two private consultations.

Dr Fox said: "He was completely rational yet upset about his state and wanted to do something about it. He was as normal as you and I with the exception that to him his left leg from the thigh down should not be there."

Dr Fox added: "I was as bewildered as you probably are. Everybody you talk to about this condition shows shock and horror that someone should want a normal limb removed.

"But I wanted to help. I don't think there is case where I have not tried to help, including multiple murderers."

It was the first time Dr Fox had come across the condition, known as apotemnophilia and more widely as body dysmorphic disorder, and there was no medical research to refer to.

He advised Mr Wright to have cognitive therapy to try and break into this train of thought, but the treatment did not work.

Instead Mr Wright wrote to surgeons asking if they would carry out the operation.

And Dr Fox was asked to draw up a psychiatric report to be used by Mr Wright's lawyers. It said Mr Wright was of sound mind but recommended amputation was the best way forward.

Just as a person who wants a sex change is asked to prove it by living as the desired gender for two years, Mr Wright took it upon himself to tie his leg up and and used a plastic limb for 18 months.

Dr Fox said: "When I saw him a second time he was a lot more adjusted to the situation. His wife was initially as bewildered as we are and the marriage was under some threat because of it.

"But when I spoke to her a second time she had come to terms with the situation more. Her attitude was 'get it over with so we can get on with our lives' and that was a major factor in the conclusion of my report."

He said: "I suppose it was probably the most unusual case I have dealt with, and I have seen some peculiar cases in my 40 years as a psychiatrist.

"But since Mr Wright had the operation I have spoken to him on the phone and found him very well. I am very glad to have been part of such a successful outcome. To have brought a lot of happiness to the life of somebody who was chronically unhappy."

Dr Fox has seen five further cases, probably making him the world's leading authority on the condition. One, a German man, also had his leg amputated by Mr Smith.

The remainder of the cases were given the go-ahead for amputation but have not had their wishes fulfilled because the operations have been banned amid moral and ethical debate.

Dr Fox said: "It is a potentially fatal condition. Mr Wright had tried to hack his leg before and I have heard of people who have tried to promote infection hoping it will be necessary for a surgeon to remove the limb.

"One German woman shot herself in the thigh with a pistol and surgeons treated her but did not remove the leg."

To this day Dr Fox is at a loss to pinpoint or understand the root cause of the disorder.

He is sure it was is not attention seeking, yet each patient had vague memories of meeting an amputee in the dim and distant past.

He added: "I only hope that other medical professionals and surgeons will now take a more broad-minded view."

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