UK NEWS

BOND ABLE TO LIVE TWICE THANKS TO SCOTS MEDIC

SECOND CHANCE: James Bond

Saturday June 14,2008

By Derek Watson

A Scots doctor came up with the dramatic scene in the latest Bond film, when his life is saved via a videolink.

Hospital consultant James Ferguson yesterday revealed he dreamed up the tense moment in Casino Royale when a poisoned Bond has to save his own life.

Daniel Craig’s 007 has to contact the MI6 team for a diagnosis over a screen in his Aston Martin DBS.

And it’s doubtful if even Q, famous for supplying Bond with deadly toys, could have matched methods used by Dr Ferguson, right, and his online emergency team.

The First Call service, which allows doctors to treat patients in remote areas using a telemedicine link-up, has been piloted at Aberdeen Royal. Dr Ferguson, a 007 fanatic, contacted the makers of Bond at Eon Productions and they loved the idea.

They have now added Dr Ferguson and his colleagues at the Scottish Centre for Telehealth to their books.

Dr Ferguson yesterday admitted he was astonished when he received a fax from film chiefs confirming they loved his idea and wanted to make him their top medical advisor for future films, including the eagerly-awaited Quantum of Solace, to be released in October.

Dr Ferguson said: “We thought up the idea and sent it to the producers, thinking that it would make Bond more realistic.”