Medical Discipline Record

United Kingdom ยท Surgeon, breast surgery

Ian Paterson: medical regulator decision

Decision, 25 July 2017Erased from the medical register (struck off) by an MPTS tribunal in Manchester on 25 July 2017.1,4

General Medical Council (GMC), decision by a Medical Practitioners Tribunal of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS)

What the panel found

The GMC argued before the tribunal that his fitness to practise was impaired because of his criminal convictions. The tribunal cited, among aggravating factors, a "breach of patient and professional trust in a medical professional", according to a summary by the law firm Shoosmiths. The Express and Star reported that he had been suspended by the GMC in 2012.5,6

Related criminal case

Convicted by a jury at Nottingham Crown Court on 28 April 2017 of 17 counts of wounding with intent and 3 counts of unlawful wounding. Sentenced on 31 May 2017 to 15 years. On an Attorney General's reference the Court of Appeal on 3 August 2017 increased the sentence to a total of 20 years. On 6 April 2022 the Court of Appeal refused his applications for an extension of time and for leave to appeal against conviction.2,3,7

Response

He did not attend the tribunal hearing and was not legally represented. The Express and Star reported that he did not oppose the proceedings and had expressed a wish to be erased without a hearing. The GMC said he had given no apology to his victims.5

Appeal and later events

No appeal against the erasure is recorded in the sources read. His 2022 application for leave to appeal against conviction was refused.3

Status now

Erased from the medical register since 25 July 2017. Serving a 20 year prison sentence as set by the Court of Appeal in August 2017.1,2

This site covers only doctors whose cases were widely reported and decided in published rulings. Each record states the decision exactly as the body made it, and any appeal or later change.

Sources

  1. General Medical Council, Comment on the decision to strike off Dr Ian Paterson (25 July 2017)
  2. Court of Appeal (Criminal Division), The National Archives Find Case Law, Paterson, R. v [2017] EWCA Crim 1625 (3 August 2017)
  3. Court of Appeal (Criminal Division), The National Archives Find Case Law, Ian Paterson v Regina [2022] EWCA Crim 456 (6 April 2022)
  4. Thompsons Solicitors, Ian Paterson struck off by Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (26 July 2017)
  5. Express and Star (Press Association), Jailed surgeon's misconduct at highest level, panel told (24 July 2017)
  6. Shoosmiths, Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service hearing strikes Paterson off medical register (25 July 2017)
  7. Channel 4 News, Ian Paterson, breast cancer surgeon, jailed for unnecessary operations (31 May 2017)