Evil Scots surgeon Ian Paterson could face a fresh prosecution after at least 70 more victims came forward.
Dozens launched claims after a £22million fund was set up to compensate patients he carried out unnecessary surgery on.
Glaswegian Paterson, who police said had a “God complex”, is serving 20 years for his 14-year campaign of botched ops.
He was jailed in 2017 for wounding with intent and unlawfully wounding nine women and one man he treated between 1997 and 2011.
He convinced cancer patients to undergo ops in NHS and private hospitals in the West Midlands by inventing or exaggerating the risks of tumours to earn extra cash and maintain a successful reputation.
He carried out unapproved “cleavage-sparing” mastectomies on patients that left behind breast tissue and risked a return of cancer.
Last year more than 5000 former patients were contacted by Spire Healthcare, where he had worked, to check on their treatment.
Dozens are understood to have been told Paterson carried out surgery that was not needed.
After he was jailed, more than 750 of Paterson’s patients received compensation from a £37million fund, mostly by women who believed they had breast cancer.
Spire Healthcare said it had provided £22.2million to a new scheme for patients treated by Paterson at a Spire hospital. Last year inquests were opened by the coroner in Birmingham into the deaths of seven women who were treated by the surgeon to see whether they might have died as a result of botched treatment at his hands.
They are among 23 deaths being investigated at the request of West Midlands Police. Paterson is due to be freed in 2027.
Speaking about the new cases, Linda Millband, head of clinical negligence at Thompsons Solicitors, which is representing more than 60 new victims, said: “If coroners find unlawful killing, that could trigger further investigation by the Crown Prosecution Service. I think there is a potential for new charges.”
She added: “Most of the previous claims were for breast surgery on women but there do seem to be a lot more operations on men for colonoscopies and hernias.”
Spire Healthcare said the £22million fund “covers all the costs associated with contacting former patients of Ian Paterson last year and providing ongoing support to them”.
A spokesman said: “Patients who suffered at the hands of Ian Paterson must not be prevented from seeking compensation. Spire Healthcare has taken the initiative to collaborate in setting up the new fund so Paterson’s victims can access appropriate legal expertise.”
West Midlands Police declined to comment while the coroner’s investigations were ongoing.
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