Mr Ian Paterson – Breast Surgery Errors
An introduction to Mr Ian Paterson
About Mr Ian Paterson
Mr Ian Paterson worked at a number of different NHS hospitals and private clinics throughout the Midlands area as a breast surgeon. He treated thousands of women referred to him from 1994 onwards, who had found lumps in their breasts and were concerned about breast cancer.
Mr Paterson put his patients' lives at risk by using a controversial technique not approved by the Hospital Trust. We are now investigating whether he also performed many unnecessary operations on his private patients.
What did Ian Paterson do wrong?
Negligence by Mr Ian Paterson
Two main issues with Mr Paterson's work have come to light so far and are detailed below. If you were treated by Mr Paterson and the circumstances of your case are not mentioned below, we may still be able to help you. You can contact us for expert and confidential legal advice.
Cleavage Sparing Mastectomies
Whilst working at Heartlands Hospital, Solihull Hospital, Good Hope Hospital, Spire Hospital Parkway and Spire Hospital Little Aston, Mr Paterson performed 'cleavage sparing' mastectomies on breast cancer patients. The technique involved leaving tissue around the cleavage area for cosmetic reasons but went against national guidelines which state that no excess tissue should be left behind as this could lead to a return of the cancer.
He did not inform his patients that he was doing anything other than following usual procedures and they had no idea that they were at an increased risk of their cancer returning.
Many of the women operated on by Mr Paterson using this controversial technique have had to undergo further surgery to remove the excess tissue and unfortunately some have had their cancer return.
"Your name has been a constant across the years throughout the Mr Paterson case and I just wanted to say a big thank you for all that you have done to give support. I have really appreciated it."
Unnecessary Surgery
Whilst working on a private basis at The Spire Hospital, Mr Paterson may have performed many unnecessary operations which subjected women to general anaesthetics and left scarring.
He would examine the lumps, sometimes carrying out ultrasounds and mammograms and then would advise the women that they had pre-cancerous lumps, which needed to be removed.
However, the lumps were often totally benign and harmless which should have been investigated with a simple biopsy. Some women had multiple unnecessary operations carried out.