Surgeon suspended and being investigated

Police investigate cancer surgeon over 'botched' operations

Ian Paterson has been suspended by the General Medical Council
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Police are investigating a surgeon who allegedly carried out botched or unnecessary breast cancer operations at three hospitals in the West Midlands.

It comes as a group of about 90 women are taking legal action against the Heart of England NHS Trust and Spire Healthcare.

The operations, carried out by surgeon Ian Paterson between 2004 and 2007, were found to breach guidelines.

He has been suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC).

Det Ch Insp Matt Markham, from West Midlands Police, said: "Police can confirm it has received a referral from the GMC in relation to allegations about the medical practices of a surgeon who previously worked in Solihull.

"A criminal inquiry has been launched and the force is working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to determine the course of the investigation."

'Cleavage sparing'
Mr Paterson is accused of performing "cleavage sparing" mastectomies at Solihull Hospital and two private hospitals owned by Spire Healthcare in Solihull and Little Aston, Staffordshire.

Heart of England NHS Trust found in 2007 that the procedure, which left a small amount of tissue for cosmetic reasons, breached national guidelines because of the risk of the cancer returning.

Mr Paterson is also being investigated by the GMC over claims he may have also unnecessarily removed lumps from patients' breasts.

Thompsons Solicitors, which is representing the women, said it had already settled one claim for compensation from the NHS Trust.

Aresh Anwar, Medical Director for Heart of England Foundation Trust, said Mr Paterson had not carried out any procedures at the hospital since May 2011.

Spire Healthcare said it was continuing to investigate the practice of Mr Paterson in conjunction with the GMC and the NHS Trust.

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I heard this on the news this morning. This surgeon also apparently only took part of cancerous tissue away, so the cancer had grown again after the surgery...

What these poor women must be going through I just can't imagine they put their lives in this mans hands and he stitched some of them up with another life sentence - bast@rd!