THE Medical Board of Australia tomorrow will consider evidence from urologists and doctors’ testimonials supporting a Rockhampton surgeon accused of four botched operations.
The board suspended Spanish-trained urologist Dr Antonio Vega Vega’s registration on May 9, but after he gave an undertaking not to practice, the suspension was lifted on June 2.
The Board began an investigation after it was alleged a Rockhampton patient had the wrong kidney removed.
There are also allegations Dr Vega Vega misdiagnosed a patient’s twisted testicle, causing it to be removed, another patient’s artery was nicked and a registrar under his supervision incorrectly positioned a stent in another patient
Dr Vega Vega was suspended by Rockhampton Hospital and voluntarily suspended himself from private practice after a patient returned to the hospital in early May complaining of kidney pain.
Tomorrow two expert urologists’ reports and five testimonials from Rockhampton doctors, filed by Dr Vega Vega’s barrister Stephen Keim, will be considered by the Medical Board.
Dr Vega Vega has asked to withdraw his undertaking not to practice, but the board has yet to decide whether to agree to that or whether it will impose a new suspension, a tribunal has heard.
Mr Keim told the Queensland Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal the Board had indicated it would reconsider whether to reimpose a suspension on June 23, when an appeal against the original suspension was set to be heard.
Chris Wilson, counsel for the Medical Board, told the QCAT: “More material has come to light” and said it would be considered tomorrow.
He said the Board also would have to consider 50 to 60 pages of expert urologists’ reports, filed for Dr Vega, although there were no urologists on the Board sitting tomorrow.
Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren SC ordered the case be mentioned again on Thursday, to hear if the Board had made any decisions concerning Dr Vega Vega.
Source: Daily Telegraph