I was bullied into agreeing to his therapy, says widow
A WIDOW told the inquest how Paul Miller ‘intimidated’ her into agreeing to an experimental treatment for her husband.
The consultant failed to tell father-of-two Graham Stoten that an operation to remove his bladder, a cystectomy, could have saved his life, the court heard.
Instead he suggested he have ‘photodynamic therapy’, an experimental technique not widely used since the 1990s.
Mr Stoten’s wife Debbie, 58, told the inquest: ‘Mr Miller was very aggressive, raised his voice and sarcastically said, “If you want Graham to have a cystectomy then let’s get on with it”. He lent over the table and said “all of the consultants agree with me”. I felt a bit afraid. I foolishly agreed and said we would do the treatment he recommended.’
Mr Stoten did not have the photodynamic therapy but did have another treatment – called BCG – suggested by Mr Miller. When this was unsuccessful Mr Stoten had surgery, but it was too late and he died in 2015, aged 57.
Mr Miller was asked if he was on a ‘frolic of his own’ when he suggested the experimental treatment. He said: ‘It’s not a conventional treatment. I would apologise for leading Mr and Mrs Stoten down that blind alley.’
However he added he believed Mr Stoten was aware of the range of available treatments, including cystectomy.