Medical practitioner cautioned for unsatisfactory professional performance

23 Nov 2020

On 23 May 2019, the Medical Board of Australia (the Board) referred Dr Indra Nordstrand to the State Administrative Tribunal of Western Australia (the tribunal) for unsatisfactory professional performance.

The Board alleged that Dr Nordstrand’s performance in the clinical care of eight cardiothoracic patients was below the standard expected, in that she had deficiencies in her technical performance of coronary artery bypass grafting and valve surgery, sternal wound issues and required assistance from colleagues during cases.

Dr Nordstrand admitted unsatisfactory professional performance and submitted by way of mitigation that (among other things) she:

• had no relevant prior disciplinary history
• was at a relatively early stage in her career as a cardiothoracic surgeon
• her practice as a cardiothoracic surgeon had been limited by an undertaking accepted by the Board as a result of immediate action, which had prevented her from performing any cardiothoracic surgery or cardiothoracic procedure, except as a surgical assistant, since 21 February 2017, and
• had undertaken many years of training as a cardiothoracic surgeon and, subject to some retraining, her skills should be available to the public.

On 6 August 2020, the tribunal ordered that Dr Nordstand be cautioned, imposed conditions on her registration requiring supervision, mentoring and audit, and pay the Board’s costs fixed in the amount of $30,000.

The full decision can be found on the tribunal website.