Man accuses doctor over his breast ops

Ian Paterson is being investigated by police and health chiefs over treatment of more than 1,000 patients but James Fernihough, of Kingswinford, is believed to be the first man to make a complaint.

The father of two daughters, two and five, is talking to Thompsons solicitors, who say the surgeon performed up to 1,150 "unnecessary, inappropriate or unregulated" procedures at NHS and private hospitals.

Mr Fernihough found a lump below his left nipple in 2003. He was treated privately by Mr Paterson at Little Aston Hospital, Sutton Coldfield and said he was told it needed to be removed without being given a biopsy to check if it was cancerous.

Analysis later showed it was harmless fatty tissue, Mr Fernihough said. "I was just relieved that I didn't have cancer so I thought it was fantastic news and I was really happy," he added.

Three months later he had another lump. Mr Paterson arranged an operation. The lump was fatty tissue.

"He asked me if I wanted him to remove it – he said it was up to me and he couldn't tell me if the lump was something sinister or not," Mr Fernihough said.

Mr Fernihough set a world record and raised thousands for charity lifting more than 500 tons in a 24-hour weightlifting challenge.

He said surgeons should be checked to ensure they make right choices for patients. A General Medical Council (GMC) inquiry potentially spans up to 700 cases involving breast tissue left after mastectomy, Thompsons say.

Mr Paterson, 54, was suspended by the GMC.