Glasgow Times

Surgeon’s ops ‘betrayed interests of his patients’

-

A SURGEON jailed for 15 years for carrying out a raft of needless breast operations had betrayed the best interests of his patients, a medical tribunal has heard.

Glasgow-born Ian Paterson, 59, was imprisoned in May after he was convicted by a jury of offences of wounding with intent and unlawful wounding against 10 patients.

His trial at Nottingham Crown Court heard harrowing evidence from the nine women and one man who were treated in the private sector between 1997 and 2011 at Little Aston and Parkway hospitals in the West Midlands.

On Monday, the General Medical Council (GMC) argued that Paterson’s fitness to practise was impaired because of his conviction­s.

Paterson did not attend the Medical Practition­ers Tribunal in Manchester and was not legally represente­d, although he was made aware of the proceeding­s by post to HMP Nottingham.

The tribunal heard that Paterson did not oppose the proceeding­s and had expressed a wish to be erased from the medical register without the need for a hearing.

Nigel Grundy, for the General Medical Council, told tribunal members: “It is our submission that the conviction­s and the circumstan­ces surroundin­g them involve a flagrant disregard by Mr Paterson of the fundamenta­l tenets of the medical profession.

“Not only do they represent the antithesis of the Hippocrati­c Oath, they represent the antithesis of the fundamenta­l tenets of good medical practice.

“Mr Paterson’s conduct is a pat- tern of betrayal of his patients’ best interests over 14 years, acting, as it seems, out of arrogance.

“Lying repeatedly to his patients, giving them the false impression of evidence of malignancy when there was none. Seeking to justify the need for invasive procedures when there was no justificat­ion. Showing no insight or empathy to his patients and the effect these procedures would have upon them both physically and psychologi­cally, no doubt for the rest of their life.”

He added that Paterson’s actions were aggravated by his lack of remorse.

He said: “He has given no apology to his victims. He has shown no remorse, on the contrary, he has adopted a position of indifferen­ce and arrogance.

“This is a serious case. In the spectrum of misbehavio­ur for a doctor it is at the very highest level.”

The tribunal will reconvene today when a decision on impairment will be made before a likely further submission from the GMC on sanction, which is expected to argue that Paterson should be struck off.

 ??  ?? Glasgow-born Ian Paterson, 59
Glasgow-born Ian Paterson, 59
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom