A FURTHER seven inquests have been opened into patients treated by the rogue breast surgeon, Ian Paterson.
These are the latest to be looked into since 2020 by Birmingham and Solihull senior coroner Louise Hunt and area coroner Emma Brown who have been tasked to identify whether there is reason to suspect that any former patients of the convicted surgeon died an unnatural death as a result of the care they received.
A statement released on the H M Coroner’s investigation into Ian Paterson website it says: “Following preliminary investigations, the Senior and Area Coroner believe there is evidence to have reason to suspect that some of those deaths may be unnatural.
“Preliminary investigations are ongoing into the deaths of other patients of Mr Paterson and it is anticipated that further inquests will be opened in due course.
“All the inquests will be adjourned until a conclusion has been reached on all preliminary investigations when a pre inquest review hearing will be listed.”
Sarah Jane Downing, the founder of the support group for convicted former breast surgeon Ian Paterson’s private patients, said: “Although it is a heartbreaking to see this next development in the Paterson case it is a relief to see that the Coroner’s Service are finally engaged and giving proper attention to the huge number of Paterson unnecessary deaths.
“At the opening of the Reverend James Inquiry into Ian Paterson I requested that the unnecessary deaths potentially caused by Ian Paterson must be fully investigated as there are a number of my group members affected.”
This comes after it was revealed the deaths of 650 patients who were under his care are currently being investigated by coroners in Birmingham.
Linda Millband at Thompsons Solicitors, who has represented hundreds of Ian Paterson’s former patients in legal claims, said: “We are sadly not surprised by the news that the deaths of hundreds of former Paterson patients are under investigation.
“Despite being found guilty almost six years ago, the extent of his negligence has still not been fully realised. Since the creation of the new Paterson fund in 2021 we have had more than 300 further cases – and most shockingly, 40 of these come from the latest patient recall by Spire just two months ago.”
Kashmir Uppal of Shoosmiths LLP – who has represented Paterson’s clients in seeking justice – said: “Until Inquests into all the deaths where there is reason to suspect that the death may be unnatural, have been opened, the full details of the generic issues such as whether there were failings in supervision of Paterson and systemic failings by hospital management. will not be known.
” The families of the deceased former patients that I represent are hopeful that the process will now proceed at a quicker pace, bearing in mind that the first Inquests were opened in July 2020.
“The knowledge that their loved one’s death, in the cases of the families that I represent, many years ago, may have been unnatural, is causing them considerable distress. “
