Judge praises ‘resilience’ of surgeon’s victims

A High Court judge has paid tribute to the “resilience” of hundreds of patients who suffered at the hands of breast surgeon Ian Paterson.

Mrs Justice Whipple, who approved a £37 million compensation plan for victims treated by him in private hospitals, said: “He was their doctor, their surgeon, and they trusted him. He betrayed that trust.

“The physical pain and emotional anguish they have suffered in consequence cannot be understated. I pay tribute to their resilience in the face of such adversity.”

Mrs Justice Whipple made her comments as she approved a settlement reached in a damages action brought on behalf of former private patients against a number of defendants, including Glasgow-born Paterson, who carried out unnecessary breast operations, leaving victims scarred and disfigured.

The approval proceedings in London yesterday formally ended the litigation which was due to go to a lengthy trial next month.

Paterson, 59, from Greater Manchester, who is now serving a 20-year sentence, was convicted at Nottingham Crown Court of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three counts of unlawful wounding.