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Breast surgeon carried out unnecessary operations for 'obscure motives', court told Breast surgeon carried out unnecessary operations for 'obscure motives', court told
(about 4 hours later)
A leading breast surgeon accused of causing grievous bodily harm to 10 patients by performing unnecessary breast operations, advised one person to have a double mastectomy or risk “full-blown cancer” despite tests showing no sign of malignancy, a court heard.A leading breast surgeon accused of causing grievous bodily harm to 10 patients by performing unnecessary breast operations, advised one person to have a double mastectomy or risk “full-blown cancer” despite tests showing no sign of malignancy, a court heard.
Ian Paterson, 59, denies 20 counts of wounding with intent against nine women and one man relating to procedures he carried out between 1997 and 2011.Ian Paterson, 59, denies 20 counts of wounding with intent against nine women and one man relating to procedures he carried out between 1997 and 2011.
Jurors were told he allegedly carried out the operations for “obscure motives” which may have included a desire to “earn extra money”.Jurors were told he allegedly carried out the operations for “obscure motives” which may have included a desire to “earn extra money”.
Paterson lied to his alleged victims, “exaggerating or quite simply inventing risk of cancer” then often claimed payments for more expensive procedures, it was claimed.Paterson lied to his alleged victims, “exaggerating or quite simply inventing risk of cancer” then often claimed payments for more expensive procedures, it was claimed.
Prosecutor Julian Christopher QC, told Nottingham crown court that Paterson wrote to Frances Perks’ insurers with a false diagnosis to justify a mastectomy for “no good reason whatsoever”.Prosecutor Julian Christopher QC, told Nottingham crown court that Paterson wrote to Frances Perks’ insurers with a false diagnosis to justify a mastectomy for “no good reason whatsoever”.
She had been referred to him in 1994, aged 35, after finding a lump in her breast after her mother and sister had died from cancer. Over the next 10 years, Paterson removed lumps from both her breasts, all found to be benign.She had been referred to him in 1994, aged 35, after finding a lump in her breast after her mother and sister had died from cancer. Over the next 10 years, Paterson removed lumps from both her breasts, all found to be benign.
More than a decade later, after the discovery of another lump, but no sign of malignancy, she was told “it was time to be thinking of having a mastectomy and that, if she did not, she would end up with full-blown cancer”, the prosecution said.More than a decade later, after the discovery of another lump, but no sign of malignancy, she was told “it was time to be thinking of having a mastectomy and that, if she did not, she would end up with full-blown cancer”, the prosecution said.
“He said that if it were him, he would have a double mastectomy,” and wrote to her insurers saying there was a “very high statistical probability” of her having disease in the other breast, which was “quite wrong”, said Christopher.“He said that if it were him, he would have a double mastectomy,” and wrote to her insurers saying there was a “very high statistical probability” of her having disease in the other breast, which was “quite wrong”, said Christopher.
Paterson, who was formerly employed by Heart of England NHS Trust and who also practised at Spire Healthcare, carried out the “unjustified and unnecessary” mastectomy on Perks’ left breast in November 2008, and there were ongoing problems after tissue was taken from her stomach for a reconstruction, which were not put right until a further operation four years later, it was claimed.Paterson, who was formerly employed by Heart of England NHS Trust and who also practised at Spire Healthcare, carried out the “unjustified and unnecessary” mastectomy on Perks’ left breast in November 2008, and there were ongoing problems after tissue was taken from her stomach for a reconstruction, which were not put right until a further operation four years later, it was claimed.
The jury heard that Paterson’s alleged victims included Leanne Joseph, a 25-year-old woman left “devastated” when told unnecessary operations had profoundly affected her ability to breastfeed.The jury heard that Paterson’s alleged victims included Leanne Joseph, a 25-year-old woman left “devastated” when told unnecessary operations had profoundly affected her ability to breastfeed.
GP Rosemary Platt, then 47, underwent a mastectomy in 1997 after Paterson “systematically misinterpreted time and again” her pathology result.GP Rosemary Platt, then 47, underwent a mastectomy in 1997 after Paterson “systematically misinterpreted time and again” her pathology result.
A 42-year-old man had a double mastectomy after being told he was “on the road to cancer” despite no evidence of malignancy.A 42-year-old man had a double mastectomy after being told he was “on the road to cancer” despite no evidence of malignancy.
Another patient, Judith Conduit, 47, underwent a double mastectomy when Paterson allegedly told her she had a rare condition, with the operation leaving her with problems that led to 94 hospital appointments in the following 12 months.Another patient, Judith Conduit, 47, underwent a double mastectomy when Paterson allegedly told her she had a rare condition, with the operation leaving her with problems that led to 94 hospital appointments in the following 12 months.
Joanne Lowson, referred to Paterson in March 2009 when she found a lumpy area on her left breast , was left with a “significant deformity” after Paterson wrongly reported test results to her and her GP to carry out operations, it was claimed.Joanne Lowson, referred to Paterson in March 2009 when she found a lumpy area on her left breast , was left with a “significant deformity” after Paterson wrongly reported test results to her and her GP to carry out operations, it was claimed.
Rachel Butler, operated on by Paterson in 2005 aged 30, who had returned to him six years later with a painful lump, was told she had to have an operation because of inflammation and she was at “high risk of contracting cancer if the lump kept returning”, said Christopher. The pathology report made no mention of inflammation, and the prosecution say the operation was “totally unnecessary”.Rachel Butler, operated on by Paterson in 2005 aged 30, who had returned to him six years later with a painful lump, was told she had to have an operation because of inflammation and she was at “high risk of contracting cancer if the lump kept returning”, said Christopher. The pathology report made no mention of inflammation, and the prosecution say the operation was “totally unnecessary”.
The court heard that Paterson was interviewed by arrangement in January 2013, when he read a prepared statement saying all surgical procedures he had undertaken were “appropriate and necessary”.The court heard that Paterson was interviewed by arrangement in January 2013, when he read a prepared statement saying all surgical procedures he had undertaken were “appropriate and necessary”.
In his prosecution opening, Christopher said Paterson was a busy surgeon with an “excellent bedside manner” . The operations he carried out were ones which “no reasonable surgeon at the time would have considered justified”.In his prosecution opening, Christopher said Paterson was a busy surgeon with an “excellent bedside manner” . The operations he carried out were ones which “no reasonable surgeon at the time would have considered justified”.
The jury heard that Joseph became paranoid and developed OCD after allegedly being told she should take medication to prevent milk production after two “unjustified” operations. After she became pregnant, following the operations, Paterson is alleged to have told her being unable to breastfeed, was “a small price to pay for her life”.
Giving evidence, her husband Mark said she was “very concerned to the point of paranoia” about the impact on her baby daughter’s immune system. “Subsequently she was diagnosed with OCD,” he said.
The case continues.The case continues.