The Cost of Trust by Deborah Douglas

The Cost of Trust by Deborah Douglas

'Courageous and candid… An important story well told' The Independent

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.

Deborah Douglas was nicknamed ‘the Erin Brockovich of Birmingham’ for spearheading the ongoing campaign for truth and justice for Ian Paterson's victims, including herself. In 2022 she received a Pride of Britain award and has been featured widely across media for her campaigning work. A former aerospace quality engineer, this is her first book.

Tracy King is a writer, producer and science communicator who has written for national and international media including The Guardian, New Statesman, The Telegraph, Stylist, and the BBC. She co-created a 2014 graphic novel, Storm, with Tim Minchin. Her memoir, Learning to Think, was published in 2024 to critical acclaim.