INQUESTS into the deaths of nine more patients of disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson are set to be opened.
Judge Richard Foster, who has been appointed to undertake the inquests, said he and his team have reviewed 417 cases of former patients where breast cancer had been listed as a cause of death in part one of the death certificate.
A total of 27 of those have resulted in inquests being opened and adjourned, with a further nine to be opened on July 14.
Paterson is currently serving a 20-year jail sentence after being convicted in 2017 of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three counts of unlawful wounding against ten patients.
The consultant breast surgeon, whose victims run into the hundreds, worked at hospitals run by the Heart of England NHS Trust (HEFT) and also practiced privately at Bupa hospitals in Solihull and Sutton Coldfield, latterly run by Spire Healthcare.
Judge Foster said of those 36 cases currently under inquest 29 were NHS patients and seven were private patients.
At a Pre Inquest Review hearing held on June 9 Judge Foster said 130 cases where breast cancer is included as a cause of death in part 2 of the death certificate have been reported to the Coroner and his team are looking over them to see if they need to be included.
He added: “There are further deaths where the cause of death is unknown because it has not been possible to trace a death certificate, despite enormous efforts by the Coroner’s Officers.
“I urge any next of kin of former patients of Mr Paterson to come forward and to make contact with the Solicitors to the Inquests via the dedicated website www.coronerspatersoninvestigation.org.
“My duty is to ensure that the relevant facts are fully, fairly and fearlessly investigated. It is also likely that I will be considering Reports to Prevent Future Deaths pursuant to regulation 28 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013.
“No conclusion can be framed in any way so as to appear to determine any question of civil or criminal liability.”
