GMC suspends rogue surgeon accused of unnecessary breast operations

An alleged rogue surgeon has been suspended by the General Medical Council after it emerged he might have performed unnecessary or inappropriate breast operations on more than 1,000 women in Britain.

Ian Stuart Paterson, a breast cancer specialist who worked at NHS and private hospitals in the Midlands from 1994 until last month, is suspected of misdiagnosing at least 450 of the women with breast cancer when they were in fact healthy, and then performing unnecessary lumpectomy surgery.

He also performed unconventional cleavage-sparing mastectomies on 700 other women, despite the procedure not being sanctioned in the UK. The technique involved leaving breast tissue around the cleavage area for cosmetic reasons but went against national guidelines which state that no excess tissue should be left behind as this could lead to a return of the cancer.

According to Thompsons solicitors, who are representing almost 100 of the affected patients on a no win, no fee basis as they launch compensation claims: Many of the women operated on by Mr Paterson using this controversial technique have had to undergo further surgery to remove the excess tissue and unfortunately some have had their cancer return — via redwolf.newsvine.com