Leamington lawyer says rogue breast surgeon Ian Paterson's victims can never be recompensed - The Leamington Observer

Leamington lawyer says rogue breast surgeon Ian Paterson's victims can never be recompensed

Leamington Editorial 2nd Jun, 2017 Updated: 2nd Jun, 2017   0

VICTIMS of rogue breast surgeon Ian Paterson will never be recompensed for what they suffered, says a Warwickshire solicitor.

Jeanette Whyman, a medical negligence specialist at Leamington-based law firm, is representing a number of clients treated by Paterson, who was jailed for 15 years after being found guilty of 17 counts of wounding with intent, relating to nine women and one man.

Ms Whyman said: “Although justice has been done, the damage Mr Paterson has caused his patients can never be recompensed.

“They will have to cope with the consequences of his actions for the rest of their lives.




“However, the length of his jail sentence sends out a tough message to the small minority of medical professionals who think they can act as they please without scrutiny.”

The 59 year-old former surgeon carried out hundreds of unnecessary operations while working at Solihull Hospital and Spire Healthcare’s Parkway and Little Aston hospitals over the course of two decades, leaving many of his victims scarred for life.


The charges related to just ten of Paterson’s hundreds of victims – a sample of those he treated between 1997 and 2011.

The NHS has already paid almost £10million in compensation to his victims, while more than 600 private patients will pursue civil action against him later this year.

Some reports claim 675 NHS patients alone have died as a result of the actions of Paterson

But while justice has been done with the guilty verdict – his victims believe the sentence is totally unacceptable and not reflective of the number of people whose lives he has ruined.

Paterson victim Sarah Jane Downing said: “The sentence is totally unacceptable.

“It is not representative of what he has done and the number of people he has harmed, physically and mentally.

“People have lost their lives because of him.”

After the sentenced was passed, Pamela Jain of the Crown Prosecution Service, said Paterson had repeatedly abused his victims’ trust for more than a decade.

She added: “He knew the procedures were not needed but carried on regardless, inflicting unlawful wounds on his patients.

“The impact of Paterson’s actions on his victims has been devastating, from the unnecessary distress of undergoing procedures they did not need, to the scars that will always serve as a physical reminder of what their doctor, Ian Paterson, did to them.”

Spire Healthcare, who Paterson worked for, released a statement.

“Nothing can undo the harm Ian Paterson has caused but there remains, of course, matters of liability and compensation which are outstanding.

“These will be addressed later in the year through a trial of lead cases.”

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