A surgeon alleged to have performed over 1,000 “unnecessary, inappropriate or unregulated” breast operations faces a criminal inquiry, police said on Thursday.
Ian Paterson is alleged by a law firm representing some of this former patients to have carried out up to 1,150 of the operations while working at various NHS and private hospitals.
“West Midlands Police can confirm it has received a referral from the General Medical Council in relation to allegations about the medical practices of a surgeon who previously worked in Solihull,” Detective Chief Inspector Matt Markham said in a statement.
The force said a criminal inquiry had been launched.
Solicitors pursuing negligence claims on behalf of several women say an inquiry by the General Medical Council cover up to 700 cases of an unregulated procedure which involves leaving some breast tissue behind after a mastectomy, or the removal of a breast or breasts.
Paterson also faces allegations that up to 450 women may have had invasive breast surgery when a biopsy could have been sufficient.
The surgeon’s registration with the General Medical Council was suspended last month.
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