A breast surgeon in the United Kingdom has entered infamy after victims accused him of carrying out countless unnecessary operations on thousands of women.
The Nottingham Crown Court jury convicted Ian Paterson on Friday of 17 counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, ad three counts of unlawful wounding, The San Francisco Chronicle reports. According to prosecutors, Paterson had deceived patients or exaggerated their risk of breast cancer in order to convince them to undergo surgery.
Many have been maimed for life, or are coping with mental and emotional stress over Paterson’s actions.
Mark Payne, police superintendent of the West Midlands, said,
Of the 11 victims he was charged with in relation to this case, none had breast cancer, and yet he led them to believe they were at risk. This was cruel and unnecessarily led to many people suffering and living in fear.
He added, “Paterson was a controlling bully, who played God with people’s lives so he could live a luxurious lifestyle.”
Paterson, 59, has various properties in Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester and the United States.
Hundreds of the surgeon’s patients were told to return to the hospital in 2012 after concerns were raised regarding both incomplete and unnecessary operations between the years 1997 and 2011.
After news stories got out regarding the surgeon’s dubious practices, former patients began going to clinics for check-ups. In 2011, the General Medical Council began probing into the matter, and Paterson was suspended by the Heart of England NHS Trust, which he worked for.
Paterson has cost the NHS 17.8 million pounds in total damages and legal costs. He saw 4,424 patients, 1,207 of whom received a mastectomy. Of them, 675 have since dies, and 68 have recurring cancer, the BBC reports.
Frances Perks, one of his victims, got an unneeded mastectomy because Paterson had persuaded her that it was in her best interest. She hopes the doctor “rots in hell.” Perks said, “I think he’s a psychopath. Why would anyone in their right mind do operations to people knowing that they didn’t need them?”
