Surgery
In Photo: Dr. Vega Vega has allegedly nicked a surgical patient's artery. Reuters

Dr Antonio Vega Vega, a central Queensland urologist who removed the wrong kidney of a patient, will be hearing the resulr of his appeal on June 27. The appeal will let him know if his license to practise will be reinstated.

Last month, when it came to light that Antonio Vega Vega had made a surgical error, the Medical Board of Australia suspended him. In past incidents, Vega Vega was alleged to have removed a misdiagnosed twisted testicle, nicked a patient's artery and positioned a stent in a wrong manner.

It has been said that he can practice medicine only under supervision, and every month, reviews on his professional competence should be done.

Vega Vega argued that the kidney surgery was highly complex because of the patient's spina bifida. He said he has the confidence and respect of his colleagues and wants the conditions of supervision and reviews of his professional competence to be removed.

The decision of his appeal will mostly be given on June 27 by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. The Central Queensland Hospital and Health Services said that whatever the outcome is, it would not reinstate Vega Vega until the completion of an external investigation.

Judge Horneman-Wren said that Vega Vega possessed the requisite judgment on whether he could perform complex surgeries and whether they could be performed in Rockhampton.

He said, "The doctor could judge which cases should be referred to a capital city hospital and when he should seek help from other surgical urologists. In my view, Dr Vega Vega does not pose a serious risk to persons but the surgery which he and others perform does pose a risk."

He explained that the removal of the wrong organ or injury to an organ due to disorientation and due to the abnormal anatomy had certainly happened in highly-regarded tertiary referral centres in recent times with surgeons who were well supported with or without consultant assistance.