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Doctor's 2007 Warning: Hospital Ignored Surgeon's Botched Operations
21 Apr
Summary
- A doctor warned in 2007 about a surgeon's appalling treatment of a patient.
- The patient underwent multiple unnecessary mastectomies, leaving her with poor results.
- An inquest is investigating 68 patient deaths possibly linked to the surgeon's care.
In 2007, Dr. Hemant Ingle alerted a hospital director to his serious concerns regarding surgeon Ian Paterson's treatment of patient Marie Pinfield. Dr. Ingle described Paterson's post-surgery results as "appalling" and warned that lawyers would be involved if patients complained. He believed a two-month delay in Pinfield's first mastectomy allowed her operable cancer to grow significantly.
Despite two mastectomies performed by Paterson, Ms. Pinfield was left with significant breast tissue, which Dr. Ingle stated was not a proper mastectomy. He offered to perform a third to salvage the situation, noting it was unusual for one patient to undergo three such procedures on the same side. Ms. Pinfield died in 2008 from metastatic breast cancer.
An inquest is currently underway, examining the deaths of 68 former patients of Ian Paterson. The disgraced surgeon is serving a 20-year sentence for botched and unnecessary operations. The University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust acknowledged in 2020 that many of Paterson's patients received "appalling treatment" under the NHS.
Paterson testified at the inquest, claiming Ms. Pinfield was aware of potential cleavage post-surgery, which he stated was planned. He asserted the operation was successful in reducing her breast size. A new inquest was also opened for Karen Stone, who died in February 2025 from metastatic breast cancer, with her death now suspected to be unnatural due to substandard treatment.
