'Judgment error': south-west surgeon referred to top medical regulator

At the time of the operation, the surgeon had conditions on his medical registration.

In a statement, Western District Health Service, which runs Hamilton hospital, confirmed it had contacted the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) in relation to Associate Professor Ned S Abraham.

However, Associate Professor Abraham said he believed "other factors" were involved in what he said appeared to be a "knee-jerk reaction" by the service.

WDHS confirmed Associate Professor Abraham had since ceased working for the organisation but said all work performed by him at Hamilton Base Hospital was "within scope".

"All surgeons at WDHS are properly credentialled and accredited," the statement said

"WDHS cannot comment any further as the matter is under review by AHPRA."

AHPRA has not yet reached an outcome.

Associate Professor Abraham, a colorectal and general surgeon, worked with WDHS from December 2024 until November 2025.

The hospital touted his experience and specialist training in metro hospitals in a Facebook post during September 2025.

"Ned is a highly experienced colorectal and general surgeon, and endoscopist, with specialist training from the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney," the post read.

The Standard found Professor Abraham was restricted from undertaking certain rectal cancer surgical procedures at the time the hospital referred the matter to AHPRA.

"We can confirm there are currently conditions on the registration of Associate Professor Ned S Abraham," a spokesperson for the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency said.

"There is also a condition relating to the sharing of information between Medicare Australia and the Medical Council of NSW to monitor compliance with the surgical condition.

"We encourage anyone with a concern about any health practitioner to contact AHPRA. You can do this by using the raise a concern form on our website, or by calling 1300 419 495."

Associate Professor Abraham said he had done "hundreds" of bowel resection surgeries since 1994 without a complication of the nature that led to the referral.

"I've never had that complication [before], not once," he said.

"Then I had that complication and I made the appropriate referrals, I discussed it with the patient honestly, and then called his wife and explained in great detail what happened and apologised again. I went through the process of open disclosure very meticulously."

Associate Professor Abraham said he had apologised to the patient for the "judgment error" made during the procedure.

"There is no other human being on the planet that would be more upset [about the complication] than I am, other than the patient and his loved ones," he said.

The surgeon said the complication that arose was not uncommon for that particular surgery and he was unaware of any other doctor being disciplined over it.

He said the previous conditions on his medical licence were a mutual agreement between him and the medical watchdog not to perform a specific type of cancer procedure.

"That cancer procedure is not related to the procedure currently in question," he said.

"None of this was kept secret from the hospital at the time of my appointment.

"The hospital was aware of all of this at the time of my appointment, and nothing was kept secret from them."

READ MORE: