Inquests open into deaths of four patients of 'butcher' breast surgeon

Inquests are to open into the deaths of four patients treated by former surgeon Ian Paterson after a coroner suspected they could be victims of 'unnatural deaths.'Senior Coroner Ms Louise Hunt has been carrying out preliminary investigations into the deaths of patients who were under the care of the rogue Solihull surgeon.Paterson is currently serving a 20-year jail sentence after being found guilty of 17 counts of wounding patients with intent against 10 victims. He was accused of 'playing God' when he persuaded patients to undergneedless breast ops - including biopsies and mastectomies.

• Patients of Paterson left scared of doctors and calling for health care system change

Paterson butchered male and female patients - telling them they were at risk of cancer when they were healthy.

The 61-year-old was employed by the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, but had practising privileges at Spire Hospitals in Solihull and Little Aston.An independent inquiry in February found "patients were let down over many years" by both the NHS and independent providers.

Read more:

• What did we learn from the Paterson Inquiry?

• Disgraced breast surgeon struck off