Ian Paterson Patient Deaths: Two New Inquests Announced
Ian Paterson Inquest: Deaths of 65 Patients Under Scrutiny
Table of Contents
Updated September 20, 2025, at 07:18 AM
Expanding Investigation into Surgical Practices
Two additional inquests are set to open, bringing the total number of investigations into the deaths of former patients of surgeon Ian Paterson to 65.These inquests aim to determine if the patients died an unnatural death as a direct result of the care and treatment thay received.
The inquests will focus on the deaths of Pauline Brown, who passed away in 2006 at the age of 62, and Jennifer Fox, who died in 2012 at age 47. Hearings are scheduled to begin on September 30th, but are expected to be adjourned for further investigation.
Paterson’s Conviction and Previous Work
Ian Paterson was convicted in 2017 of wounding patients through botched and unneeded operations and afterward sentenced to 20 years in prison. He practiced at hospitals within the former Heart of England NHS Trust, covering Birmingham and Solihull, and also at Spire Little aston.
Throughout his career, Paterson treated thousands of patients across the West midlands, making the scope of this investigation particularly notable.
Concerns Over Cleavage-Sparing Mastectomies
A central point of scrutiny revolves around Paterson’s alleged performance of “cleavage-sparing mastectomies.” This controversial technique involved intentionally leaving some breast tissue behind to preserve a patient’s cleavage, despite the known risk of cancer recurrence. Evidence presented during his trial highlighted the potential dangers of this approach.
The inquests will likely explore whether this practice,and other surgical decisions made by Paterson,contributed to the deaths of the patients under investigation. This case underscores the critical importance of rigorous surgical standards and patient safety protocols within the healthcare system.