Vascular surgeon James Ian Spark faces restrictions after a patient died from complications following risky surgery

An Adelaide surgeon must be supervised for some procedures after a patient died following an operation - and has agreed not to perform a particular surgery.

A vascular surgeon facing deception charges must be supervised for some procedures and has agreed not to perform a particular one after a patient died following an operation.

A South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal judgment reveals the Medical Board of Australia last September placed restrictions on Dr James Ian Spark – including supervision for all procedures – after reports were made about two operations he performed.

Then ahead of a hearing in December, it was agreed that he would stop performing one type of surgery and require supervision only for some others.

It was revealed in mid-2021 that Dr Spark, 57, of Kingswood, had been charged with 25 counts of deceiving another to benefit himself over allegations he defrauded SA Health of more than $60,000.

He is accused of charging for 25 surgeries he either didn’t perform or had little involvement in between June, 2017 and April, 2018.

The Medical Board of Australia allowed Dr Spark to continue practising while he faces the charges, which he has denied and are in pre-trial proceedings in the Adelaide Magistrates Court.

In November 2019, Dr Spark operated on a 19-year-old woman.

Dr James Ian Spark. Picture: Facebook

Prof Spark diagnosed her with a number of conditions including Nutcracker Syndrome – a rare vascular disorder – and recommended major surgery.

After the surgery, complications developed and the young woman died.

The Australian Health Practitioner’s Regulation Authority was notified of the death and an expert review it ordered raised doubts about the diagnosis and decision to perform a major procedure “which carried with it a significant risk of morbidity and mortality”.

A second notification was made to AHPRA about Dr Spark’s surgery on a 68-year-old woman who had a serious ulcer.

Dr Spark is accused by the regulator of performing an unnecessary procedure during the surgery to which the patient had not consented.

Another AHPRA-ordered report concluded that there was no evidence to show a need for the procedure.

Dr Spark acquired his own specialist reports which in turn shed “doubt or uncertainty” on the opinions of AHPRA’s expert.

Vascular surgeon Dr James Ian Spark is accused of deceiving more than $60,000 from SA Health by wrongly claiming for surgeries.

Dr Spark and the Medical Board reached an agreement before a hearing in December in which the surgeon agreed not to perform Nutcracker Syndrome surgeries and to have supervision for some procedures.

The tribunal issued a final statement in the published judgment.

“It is clear from the many references and testimonials provided to the Board by Dr Spark that he is an extremely skilled vascular surgeon who is highly regarded by many of his peers,” the tribunal concluded.

“He may be seen by some as somewhat of a pioneer in his field, especially regarding extraordinary or unusual medical presentations.

“This matter however is a timely reminder that all medical specialists who perform surgery should exercise extra caution when proposing and undertaking out of the ordinary and difficult surgical procedures.”