Surgeon denies ‘liar’ slur

A SCOTTISH surgeon accused of carrying out unnecessary breast ops has denied insulting a woman giving evidence against him.

Ian Paterson rejected a suggestion he called GP Dr Rosemary Platt – one of his alleged victims – a “lying b **** ”.

He added: “I said I thought she wasn’t telling the truth.”

Paterson told Nottingham Crown Court he did not believe any of his 10 alleged victims were “liars” but that their memories had become confused over time.

Paterson, 59, also said professional surgical guidelines were “not rules or laws, written in stone”.

He told prosecuting barrister Julian Christopher QC: “You’re looking at guidelines, I’m treating a patient – that’s where we differ.”

The surgeon denies 20 counts of wounding with intent against nine women and one man.

Dr Platt had three ops, including a right mastectomy, which allegedly were not needed.

Paterson, of Altrincham, Cheshire, was formerly employed by Heart of England NHS Trust and also practised at private Spire Healthcare.

He yesterday denied ever having told Dr Platt she had breast cancer, despite her claiming otherwise to a psychiatrist.

He said: “She knew we were treating the worst case scenario, treating her as an early cancer simply to maximise the safety of her follow-up.”

The trial continues.