Irwin Mitchell Representing Patients In Legal Fight To Help Re-Build Their Lives

Rogue surgeon Ian Paterson, who undertook unnecessary operations and exaggerated the risk of cancer to convince patients to undergo surgery, was sentenced to 15 years in jail today.

Ian Paterson, from Altrincham, was convicted of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three counts of unlawful wounding after a lengthy trial. The charges, dating from 1997 to 2011, relate to patients Paterson saw while practising at hospitals in the West Midlands.

Hundreds of Paterson's patients were recalled in 2012 after concerns his operations. Mr Paterson was suspended by the General Medical Council during the same year because of allegations he had undertaken cleavage-sparing mastectomies.

He was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court today where many of his victims attended the hearing and several victim impact statements were read and the prosecution described his actions as an abuse of his power in a position of trust.

More than 30 of his former patients instructed specialist medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate their treatment which was carried out both on the NHS and at a Spire Parkway Hospital in Solihull.

Expert Opinion

This sentence confirms the severity of his crimes and highlights the need for much improved supervision and monitoring of doctors who treat their patients both in the NHS and the private sector.

“These patients harmed by Mr Paterson will have to live with what happened to them for the rest of their lives and some civil cases for compensation to help them rebuild are still in progress.

“Those patients affected by Mr Paterson have some justice for what happened but nothing can turn back the clock for them personally and for many what happened to them was life-changing. The numbers of people affected are staggering and it is crucial that the whole healthcare industry learns from this urgently and improves policies and checks, and prevents any possible repeats.” Sallie Booth - Partner