Breast surgeon Ian Paterson carried out other unnecessary operations

Rogue breast surgeon Ian Paterson who was jailed for 20 years also carried out other unnecessary operations including gall bladder and appendix removals, legal review finds

• The disgraced surgeon was jailed for 20 years in 2017 over the scandal

Disgraced breast cancer surgeon Ian Paterson may have also conducted other unnecessary operations, according to a legal review. 

Paterson, 63, was jailed after operating on women he wrongly diagnosed with cancer and using dangerous medical procedures on those who did have the disease.

Hundreds of new victims have been identified after the private hospitals where Paterson worked recalled thousands of his patients. 

In at least 100 cases of the 300 discovered since 2021, patients were having treatment for conditions other than breast surgery, such as the removal of their gallbladder or appendix.

So far, 200 of the cases have been settled, with 100 still being examined lawyers and Spire Healthcare.

Ian Paterson (pictured Feb 21 2017) was jailed for 20 years, having carried out unnecessary operations on his victims

Paterson worked at NHS hospitals in the West Midlands and private clinics including those run by Spire hospitals (Spire Parkway in Solihull, pictured) 

The private medical group has set aside nearly £50million to cover the costs of the cases.

Thompsons Solicitors’ Linda Millband, who has represented hundreds of Paterson’s clients in legal claims, told the Times: ‘It is clear the Paterson scandal is far from over. 

‘Since the inquiry we have seen cases including appendectomies, varicose veins, hernias. All of them unnecessary, he would basically do anything that was available, it seems.

‘Most of the cases we’ve got are unnecessary lumpectomies to remove tissue on people who didn’t have any cancerous tissue at all. Some patients were put through multiple surgeries, he preyed on the most vulnerable.’

READ MORE: NHS whistleblower reveals he raised concerns with health bosses about butchering breast surgeon Ian Paterson TEN YEARS before he was finally jailed for 1,000 botched and unnecessary operations 

The disgraced surgeon was jailed for 20 years in 2017 after being found guilty of inflicting wounds with intent by carrying out unnecessary on ten patients.

Both Spire Healthcare and the NHS were criticised by an independent inquiry in 2020 for allowing Paterson to operate for more than two decades despite concerns being raised.

In April, it was announced that the death of hundreds of Paterson’s breast cancer patients were under examination by medical experts.

On Friday, Richard Foster, a deputy High Court judge told a preliminary hearing at Birmingham’s coroner’s court that there were 417 deaths where breast cancer was the cause, and 130 cases where the disease was listed as a contributory factor.

Inquests have been opened into 27 cases and Mr Foster confirmed a further nine would be opened next month.

Overall, he said he expected another 21 cases. 

According to Mr Foster, medical experts had produced reports that fuelled the suspicion that there had been an unnatural death in each case.

In other cases, he said, death certificates had not been found, urging Paterson’s patients’ relatives to come forward to the coroner’s team.

Reports for clinical negligence claims the surgeon put patients through unnecessary chemotherapy sessions for the financial benefit of Latif.

The judge pointed out that while inquests were not designed to determine criminal liability, he ‘will not hesitate to refer any evidence of further criminal liability to the director of public prosecutions’.

He said that the focal point of his investigations would look into the wider systemic failings that may have contributed to the death of patients.

Mr Foster also said he would focus on whether Paterson’s colleagues should have been aware of his actins and the failure by hospital managers and regulatory agencies. 

The culture of the hospitals and the recall systems used by both the NHS and Spire Healthcare will also been examined.

The family of Eunice Jones, 47, who died in 2004, are still waiting for more information about her case.

Spire Healthcare has set aside nearly £50million to cover the costs of the cases

Ms Jones, from Kowle, Solihull, was diagnosed with breast cancer by Paterson in January 2002, before it spread to her bones over 12 months later.

Her family are still unsure about what went wrong with her care, and were told in September that the coroner is set to investigate the circumstances of her death. 

‘There are life events that Mum hasn’t been present for: my sisters’ graduations, weddings, and having children,’ said her son Matthew, 37, from Walsall.

He said that he thinks Paterson gave his mother a ‘cleavage-sparing’ mastectomy – which was a technique used by the surgeon which left behind the breast tissue, risking a return of cancer. However, the notes on his mother’s care are poor.

‘We thought Mum had a natural death. Now, all of a sudden we are having to consider the possibility that Mum would still be here today, if it wasn’t for Paterson. That’s a very different feeling. It’s a feeling of sadness turning to anger.’

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