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Insights / News
Ian Paterson, a former consultant breast surgeon, was jailed for 20 years in 2017 after being convicted of 20 counts of wounding with intent. The surgeon was employed by the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust and practised in the private sector. He was appointed as a consultant at Solihull Hospital in 1998 and practised there until May 2011.
More than 560 patient deaths have been considered so far by a multi-disciplinary team of medical experts, leading, so far, to the opening of 62 inquests in relation to the way in which mastectomy operations were performed and how that was managed.
The inquests will be held in five segments: cause of death; systemic issues; regulatory, other NHS bodies and the private sector; the patient recall process and prevention of future deaths. The full inquests, which began on 7 October, are expected to run for two years at Birmingham and Solihull Coroner’s Court.
James Leonard KC is representing one of the Interested Persons at the Inquests.
James has an established practice in Disciplinary & Regulatory Law and also specialises in Health, Safety & Environmental Law. His Regulatory experience of representing health care and legal professionals extends to Inquests, the GMC, the GDC, the GPhC, the Tribunal Chamber for Education Health and Social Care and SRA disciplinary tribunals. Examples include representing; a senior Obstetric consultant for fraud in the Crown Court; the GMC in relation to High Court Judicial Review; a consultant anaesthetist for manslaughter in the Crown Court, at Inquest and in GMC proceedings; and a dentist charged with over 2000 offences of misconduct in relation to record-keeping and dishonesty. In 2024, James represented a consultant surgeon in relation to allegations of conduct, dishonesty and clinical mismanagement.
James was appointed King’s Counsel in 2022.
To find out more about James, contact Matt Sale on +44 (0)20 7427 4910 or Andy Hunter on +44 (0)20 7427 4905.
News 18 Oct, 2024