The Cost of Trust

The Butcher Surgeon and the Scandal that Shamed British Medicine

De: Deborah Douglas, Tracy King

This is the story of one of the most horrifying scandals in British medical history.

In 2003, Deborah Douglas was diagnosed with breast cancer by Ian Paterson, a surgeon based in the Midlands. Over the next seven years, Deborah placed her trust in Paterson, undergoing a mastectomy, reconstructive surgery, and extensive chemotherapy under his care – only to discover that her cancer diagnosis had been exaggerated and her treatment was totally unnecessary. Deborah was not alone; in 2017, Paterson, infamously dubbed the ‘Butcher Surgeon,’ by the media, was convicted of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three counts of unlawful wounding and sentenced to 20 years in prison. These were just a fraction of his victims. He deceived thousands of patients during his tenure as both an NHS and private surgeon.

The Cost of Trust is a shocking work of investigative journalism that unveils the true extent of this medical atrocity. Authored by Deborah Douglas with writer Tracy King – also a casualty of Paterson – the book provides an in-depth look at the devastating impact of Paterson’s actions and the work it took to bring him to justice. Deborah Douglas led the campaign to expose Paterson’s misconduct and the failures of the medical authorities that allowed him to operate unchecked. In the wake of Paterson’s conviction, the Chief Coroner has opened inquests into the deaths of 54 patients treated by Paterson with more deaths being investigated. The NHS and private healthcare systems will answer accusations of systemic failures that enabled such a grievous breach of trust.

The Cost of Trust is a compelling David vs. Goliath narrative and a crucial work of non-fiction.

©2025 Deborah Douglas, Drumstick Tree Limited (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers