From 1993 until he was suspended in 2011, Mr Paterson treated thousands of patients in both the NHS and private sector, carrying out needless breast surgeries and using unapproved techniques for breast cancer. It has subsequently come to light that Mr Paterson’s malpractice may have extended to general surgical procedures as well as breast surgery.
Mr Paterson is serving a 20-year prison sentence and around 750 patients have already received compensation for injuries caused by him. A new fund has set up by Spire Healthcare to enable more patients to bring compensation claims for unnecessary or inappropriate surgery.
Watch our client's video: Lesley Cuthbert's story
Rogue surgeon Paterson may have injured hundreds more in general surgery - Read more
"We know that the criminal trial related to breast surgery cases only. These general surgery cases, many of which have had equally devastating consequences, were not considered. So in addition to the civil cases, perhaps we should we be looking at further criminal charges in relation to all these unnecessary or sub-standard general surgery procedures that he carried out?"
Kashmir Uppal - Notable lawyer who actioned first civil case against Mr Ian Paterson.
What did Ian Paterson breast surgeon do?
He performed unregulated cosmetic procedures, "cleavage-sparing" mastectomies, in which cancerous tissue was left behind, meaning the disease returned in many of his patients. Other patients had surgery they simply did not need after he advised them that they had pre-cancerous breast lumps. Often the lumps were harmless, but patients were subjected to operations that were unnecessary, leaving them with physical and mental scarring.
One of Ian Paterson’s patients was Lesley Cuthbert. Lesley had surgical procedures to treat breast lumps and check-ups over several years, which turned out to be completely unnecessary. Listen to Lesley’s story. Elizabeth Webb also underwent unnecessary breast surgery but was not aware of this until she received a letter from Spire earlier this year advising her that the surgery was not required.
What other surgery did Mr Ian Paterson undertake?
Ian Paterson carried out many general surgical procedures as well as breast surgery – many patients recalled by Spire Healthcare were not previously aware that their surgery had been unnecessary or inappropriate. One of those patients was Craig Timmins, now a Shoosmiths client, who was referred to Paterson by his GP in 1995 with a suspected hernia. An initial operation by Paterson was carried out, but later reviews found the surgical technique used was not appropriate, requiring further surgical interventions. Mr Timmins and his wife are now left wondering if their inability to have children could have been a consequence of Paterson’s botched surgery.
How can Shoosmiths help?
Kashmir Uppal, a specialist medical negligence solicitor at Shoosmiths, investigated and brought the first civil case against Mr Paterson in 2010 and was the lead solicitor in the Paterson claims before she joined Shoosmiths. She has spent much of her career settling many clinical negligence cases for his patients.
Contact Kashmir and her team for a confidential legal consultation about the treatment you received from Ian Paterson.
Pictured above: Kashmir Uppal, medical negligence specialist solicitor, investigated and brought the first civil case against Mr Paterson in 2010.
"The physical scars, the mental scars, they're going to be with us for the rest of our lives but at least it's given us a chance to move on now. Kashmir has been absolutely fantastic. Her support has been incredible and, if it wasn't for Kashmir this case may never have come to light. All the hard work she did getting the women, and men, to come forward, it's been incredible. She has put some much work into it and, her and her team, I just cannot thank them enough for what they've done and for all the support they have given me and everyone else."
Lesley Cuthbert - Ian Paterson victim.
Useful downloadable information
- Download here the Independent Inquiry Report - Report of the Independent Inquiry into the Issues raised by Paterson authored by The Right Reverend Graham James.
- Download the Verita review here - Independent review of the governance arrangements at Spire Parkway and Little Aston hospitals in light of concerns raised about the surgical practice of Mr Ian Paterson.
Press Coverage featuring Shoosmiths and Mr Paterson
Solihull Observer - Disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson bid to appeal conviction as more victims appear - 19 August 2021
The Independent - New compensation scheme for victims of rogue surgeon to be set up by private hospital group - 27 July 2021
The World News - New compensation scheme for victims of rogue surgeon to be set up by private hospital group - 27 July 2021
Solihull Observer - Paterson victims could get more help following court judgement - 22 July 2021
Birmingham Mail - New compensation avalanche as 5,500 victims of disgraced surgeon Ian Paterson recalled - 21 July 2021
Worcester News - Hundreds more victims of rogue breast surgeon Ian Paterson could be in line for compensation - 21 July 2021
Dudley News - Victims of West Midlands breast surgeon given new hope - 21 July 2021
The Independent - Ministers accused of ‘knowingly exposing’ patients to risk after partial response to Paterson scandal - 24 March 2021
CBS News - 11,000 cancer patients told to get rechecked after treatment by rogue surgeon Ian Paterson - 7 February 2020
BBC News - Ian Paterson victims' families call for manslaughter charges - 4 February 2020
The Times - Victims of disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson awarded £37m - 14 September 2017
Express - Judge approves £37m fund for victims of rogue breast surgeon Ian Paterson - 27 September 2017
Daily Mail - Greed, arrogance - or evil? Why DID the breast surgeon butcher so many? - 3 May 2017
LBC - Ian Paterson inquiry: ‘Culture of denial’ allowed rogue surgery to continue - 4 February 2020
The Guardian - Inquiry announced into case of rogue surgeon Ian Paterson - 7 December 2017
The Telegraph - Rogue breast cancer surgeon sentenced to 15 years' prison for 'butchering' patients - 31 May 2017
BBC Radio 4 - Breast cancer surgeon Ian Paterson (radio show) - 3 May 2017
ITV Central TV coverage - September 2017:
BBC Midlands TV coverage - September 2017:
