Three deaths added as rogue breast surgeon investigated
ATOTAL of seven inquests have now been opened into the deaths of women treated by Glasgow-born rogue breast surgeon Ian Paterson, who was jailed in 2017 for wounding patients.
Area coroner Emma Brown said yesterday that she had reason to believe three further deaths “may have been caused or contributed to by acts or omissions in the treatment provided by Mr Paterson, and potentially by other clinicians involved in the care”.
Four inquests linked to the Birmingham and Solihull coroner’s preliminary investigations into patients of Paterson were opened and adjourned earlier this month.
Paterson was found to have carried out unnecessary operations in
NHS and private hospitals, exaggerating or inventing cancer risks and claiming payments for more expensive procedures.
He was employed by Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust (HEFT) but had practising privileges in the independent sector at Spire Parkway and Spire Little Aston in Birmingham.
He was jailed in 2017 after being found guilty of 17 counts of wounding patients with intent, against 10 victims.
He was handed a 15-year prison term, but Court of Appeal judges later increased his tariff to 20 years.
In September 2017, more than 750 patients treated by Paterson received compensation payouts from a £37million fund.
The independent Paterson Inquiry into the issues raised, published in February, found that many of his patients were “lied to, deceived or exploited”, though the consultant innocence.
The inquiry, chaired by retired Bishop of Norwich the Rt Rev Graham James, said the surgeon was able to go on performing maintains his unnecessary operations for years amid a “dysfunctional” healthcare system that failed patients.
Ms Brown formally opened the additional inquests in a hearing conducted over a video-link at Birmingham Coroner’s Court, to comply with Covid-19 guidance.
She added it was “anticipated” that further inquests would be opened.
Inquests were opened yesterday into the deaths of jewellery-maker Judith Bruce, who was 47, kitchen assistant Christine Gould, 56, and housewife Lindsey Phipps, who was 57 at the time of her death.
Adjourning the hearings, the coroner said the inquests were “likely” to be Article 2 hearings, which covers a much broader sweep of the issues surrounding each death.
She added that this was because of the “apparent serious defaults by state organisations”, identified by the bishop’s inquiry.