Vascular surgeon James Ian Spark revealed as doctor charged over fake surgeries
A vascular surgeon who worked at FMC for more than a decade can be revealed as the doctor at the centre of an ICAC investigation into fake surgeries.
Police & Courts
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A respected vascular surgeon has been charged with deceiving the public health system out of more than $65,000 by claiming for surgeries he never did.
Dr James Ian Spark, 56, of Kingswood, is charged with 25 counts of deceiving another to benefit himself.
Court documents show that Dr Spark is accused of claiming for surgeries he either didn’t perform or was only tangentially involved in on 25 occasions between June 25, 2017 and April 27, 2018.
The total amount alleged to have been defrauded was $65,429.92 with the individual amounts claimed ranging between $678 and $4698.
The court documents show that Dr Spark was alleged to have defrauded SA Health at Bedford Park, the site of the Flinders Medical Centre.
He is accused of claiming fake “call-backs”, when surgeons are asked to return to the hospital to perform or consult on emergency surgeries.
In an online curriculum vitae Dr Spark states he was employed as a consultant vascular surgeon at Flinders Medical Centre between 2008 and 2019.
On May 25, following inquiries by The Advertiser, the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption released a public statement confirming a surgeon had been charged as a result of an investigation.
On that day SA Health confirmed that Dr Spark had left SA Health and entered private practice.
The Advertiser understands that even on the day of his first court appearance Dr Spark had surgeries scheduled.
Commissioner Ann Vanstone QC said in many cases Dr Spark had filled out his own time sheets.
“It will be alleged that in some instances claims were made for procedures with which the surgeon had no involvement in; others he merely offered advice to a more junior doctor but did not perform the relevant procedure himself,” she said in the statement.
“Other claims were for procedures the surgeon did perform, but in ordinary working hours for which he was already being paid.
“Still others concerned claims for surgery undertaken in his private capacity.
“It is alleged that in all but one instance the timesheets were certified and authorised by the surgeon himself.”
Deception carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
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