Doctor used ‘experimental treatments’ resulting in 10 patient deaths

Dr Paul Miller, a former consultant urologist at East Surrey Hospital in Redhill, is being questioned over the deaths of 10 of his cancer patients that were treated between 2007 and 2013.

Inquests of all 10 patients are being heard together, with Dr Miller due to be questioned today.

There are concerns that Dr Miller used experimental treatments on patients and that hospital bosses took five years to listen to his colleagues’ concerns.

He treated one of his patients with a high-intensity ultrasound, used to burn away prostate cancer cells. Treatments such as these are not recommended by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence.

His colleagues reported him to hospital bosses, telling them that patients were suffering lasting damage and were being left in constant pain.

Five years later, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trusts suspended Dr Miller and began to investigate.

The investigation found that 27 of his patients had suffered “serious harm”, with 10 of them subsequently dying.

Following the investigation, Dr Miller was sacked from his position, however he has not yet been charged with any criminal offence.

Chantae Clark, a paralegal in the medical negligence team at Ashtons Legal comments: “It is sad to hear that Dr Miller’s patients suffered more than necessary at a time when they should have been receiving care to relieve their pain and suffering. It seems that the Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust missed a crucial opportunity to act on concerns raised by staff at the time. I sincerely hope that the inquest will provide some answers for the families of the former patients.”