The Criminal Surgeon

Sarah Jane Downing was a victim of the now imprisoned surgeon Ian Paterson. Ian Paterson specialised in breast cancer operations, and between 1997 and 2011, he subjected more than 1000 patients to unnecessary and damaging surgeries, many of them mastectomies. He's currently serving a 20 year sentence after being found guilty on 17 counts of wounding with intent, and three counts of unlawful wounding. When Sarah Jane Downing discovered the lumpectomy he’d performed on her was unnecessary she founded a group to bring together his victims.

WARNING: this episode contains descriptions of surgery and distressing conversations about receiving a cancer diagnosis .

Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Ailsa Rochester