New evidence has emerged regarding an inquest into the death of a former patient of ex-neurologist Michael Watt, throwing doubt on the original findings. In 2010, Stephen Sparkes died at 32 years old, and an inquest at the time concluded that his epilepsy medication played a role in his death. However, a review conducted last year found that Sparkes had actually been misdiagnosed and should have been taken off the drug prior to his death.
The case marks yet another issue among an ongoing scandal involving Watt, who was recently struck off the medical register due to serious misconduct allegations. Watt has not responded to any requests for comment from BBC Spotlight, and a spokesperson of his cited serious ongoing mental health issues as the reason for his silence.
In addition to Sparkes’ case, a review by the Royal College of Physicians has found that brain surgery recommended by Watt was actually unnecessary in the case of Sparkes. Sparkes’ parents, Brian and Norma Sparkes, believe that their son’s surgery was the beginning of his downward spiral, which led to his eventual death.
David Chadwick, a retired leading neurologist and academic based in Manchester, has reviewed the case against Watt and says it is “extremely worrying” and shows “an ongoing danger to patients he was seeing.” Watt’s activities as a neurologist are considered among the largest patient recalls in the history of Northern Ireland
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