Concerns Raised Over Ian Paterson's Surgical Techniques

An inquest has revealed that Fazel Fatah, a consultant plastic surgeon, raised concerns about the inadequate mastectomies performed by disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson, yet he did not report him to the General Medical Council. Fatah noted that two patients he later operated on had residual breast tissue and tumors remaining after Paterson's rapid surgical technique, which took about half an hour compared to the standard two-hour meticulous dissection. Paterson, who is serving a 20-year sentence for wounding former patients, used a large scalpel that did not properly separate breast tissue from the skin, leading to concerns over his surgical methods. The inquest into the death of Melanie Chalklen, a former patient, is part of a series examining the impact of Paterson's practices. Fatah expressed regret for not intervening sooner and has since requested not to work with Paterson again. This testimony highlights ongoing issues in patient safety and accountability within the medical profession.