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Breast surgeon's sentence for needless operations increased to 20 years Breast surgeon's sentence for needless operations increased to 20 years
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The surgeon Ian Paterson, who carried out needless breast operations, has had his 15-year jail sentence increased to 20 years by court of appeal judges.The surgeon Ian Paterson, who carried out needless breast operations, has had his 15-year jail sentence increased to 20 years by court of appeal judges.
Judges had been urged to rule that the 15-year jail sentence given to Paterson was unduly lenient and should be increased.Judges had been urged to rule that the 15-year jail sentence given to Paterson was unduly lenient and should be increased.
Paterson, 59, from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, who left victims scarred and disfigured, watched proceedings via videolink from prison as three court of appeal judges heard the argument that his current sentence was not sufficient to reflect the seriousness and the totality of his offending.Paterson, 59, from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, who left victims scarred and disfigured, watched proceedings via videolink from prison as three court of appeal judges heard the argument that his current sentence was not sufficient to reflect the seriousness and the totality of his offending.
Paterson was sentenced to 15 years in May following a trial at Nottingham crown court.Paterson was sentenced to 15 years in May following a trial at Nottingham crown court.
Lady Justice Hallett, Mrs Justice Carr and Mr Justice Goss reviewed the sentence at a hearing in London after it was referred to the court by the solicitor general, Robert Buckland.Lady Justice Hallett, Mrs Justice Carr and Mr Justice Goss reviewed the sentence at a hearing in London after it was referred to the court by the solicitor general, Robert Buckland.
The decision was announced by Hallett, who said: “Both the harm and culpability here were exceptionally high.”The decision was announced by Hallett, who said: “Both the harm and culpability here were exceptionally high.”
She said the court was satisfied that the sentence imposed was “unduly lenient”, and that a “just” term was one of a total of 20 years for “multiple” offences.She said the court was satisfied that the sentence imposed was “unduly lenient”, and that a “just” term was one of a total of 20 years for “multiple” offences.
Hallett said: “How any doctor, let alone one who had earned an enviable reputation, could have engaged in this level of offending we will never know.
“Greed, self-aggrandisement, power - however, they do not come close to explaining how a doctor can falsely tell a patient he or she has cancer when they have not, with all that such a diagnosis entails for a patient and members of their family.
“Nor how a doctor can then insist that he or she undergo unnecessary operations, including mastectomies, with all the physical and psychological pain such operations cause.
“Patients trusted him implicitly. They could never have imagined that he would put them through the agony of a diagnosis of cancer and mutilation of their breasts when there was no justification for it.
“With some of his patients, he put them through their ordeal more than once. “They must feel no sentence could properly reflect their suffering and that of their families.”
Hallett said the trial judge had faced a difficult and “unprecedented” sentencing exercise.
After the ruling, Buckland said: “Throughout our lives we are told and expected to trust doctors. Paterson woefully abused that trust - he deliberately preyed on people’s worst fears and then mutilated them on the operating table.After the ruling, Buckland said: “Throughout our lives we are told and expected to trust doctors. Paterson woefully abused that trust - he deliberately preyed on people’s worst fears and then mutilated them on the operating table.
“This is a truly sickening crime and my thoughts are with the victims and their families. I hope the increased sentence will help bring some closure for them.”“This is a truly sickening crime and my thoughts are with the victims and their families. I hope the increased sentence will help bring some closure for them.”
Buckland argued on Thursday that Paterson’s offending was “so serious and so exceptional” that a jail term “significantly higher” than 15 years was required. It would merit a sentence of at least 20 years, he said.Buckland argued on Thursday that Paterson’s offending was “so serious and so exceptional” that a jail term “significantly higher” than 15 years was required. It would merit a sentence of at least 20 years, he said.
Buckland said the surgeon’s crimes had “caused a very high degree of physical and psychological harm” to vulnerable patients.Buckland said the surgeon’s crimes had “caused a very high degree of physical and psychological harm” to vulnerable patients.
Paterson was convicted by a jury of offences of wounding with intent and unlawful wounding against 10 patients.Paterson was convicted by a jury of offences of wounding with intent and unlawful wounding against 10 patients.
Sentencing him, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker told Paterson: “You deliberately played upon their worst fears, either by inventing or deliberately exaggerating the risk that they would develop cancer, and thereby gained their trust and confidence to consent to the surgical procedures which you carried out upon them.”Sentencing him, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker told Paterson: “You deliberately played upon their worst fears, either by inventing or deliberately exaggerating the risk that they would develop cancer, and thereby gained their trust and confidence to consent to the surgical procedures which you carried out upon them.”
His trial heard evidence from nine women and one man who were treated in the private sector at Little Aston and Parkway hospitals in the West Midlands between 1997 and 2011.His trial heard evidence from nine women and one man who were treated in the private sector at Little Aston and Parkway hospitals in the West Midlands between 1997 and 2011.
Victims told the court that Paterson’s crimes had left them in constant pain and struggling to trust medical professionals.Victims told the court that Paterson’s crimes had left them in constant pain and struggling to trust medical professionals.