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Patient's Flat Chest Wish Ignored, Inquest Hears
22 Apr
Summary
- Mastectomy surgery was not the planned procedure.
- Patient repeatedly expressed desire for a completely flat chest.
- Consent form details were disputed by the surgeon at the inquest.
An inquest has revealed that breast surgery conducted by disgraced surgeon Ian Paterson on patient Marie Pinfield in 2006 was not a standard mastectomy, contrary to records. Pinfield, who died in 2008, had reportedly told Paterson she wanted a completely flat chest after both operations, but was unhappy with the results.
Paterson, currently serving a 20-year sentence for botched operations, testified that the procedure was a 'bespoke oncoplastic modification' and never intended to result in a flat chest. However, letters presented at the inquest suggested Paterson acknowledged Pinfield's unhappiness with her post-surgery appearance.
The inquest is examining the deaths of 68 women treated by Paterson. Evidence presented by a whistleblower surgeon raised concerns about Paterson's practices, which Paterson dismissed as "lies."
Paterson suggested the consent form for the mastectomy was not sufficiently specific. He also claimed that cancer found during the second operation in 2006 was likely metastatic, not a missed tumor from the first surgery.
