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Patients Angered at N.L. Health Authority Over Misread Breast Cancer Tests

Posted on: Wednesday, 19 March 2008, 18:00 CDT

By Tara Brautigam, THE CANADIAN PRESS

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - A woman testifying at a public inquiry into botched breast cancer tests in Newfoundland says doctors didn't tell her that her test was later found to be inaccurate.

On the opening day of the inquiry, Beverly Green says the Eastern Health authority didn't inform her that her test was sent to Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, and later found to be flawed.

Green, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2001, said Wednesday she was "very angry and very disappointed" that Eastern Health didn't inform her of the changed test result.

"I know I have a disease that's probably going to destroy my life at some time," Green, 45, told commission counsel Sandra Chaytor.

"But the way this was handled, it was just unforgivable."

The probe is focusing on hormone receptor tests, which are critical because they can help determine the course of treatment for a breast cancer patient.

If patients are found to be estrogen-and/or progesterone-positive, they may respond to hormone therapy such as Tamoxifen.

If not, they may be given other treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation.

Green, wearing a knitted cap, said she underwent chemotherapy and radiation for her breast cancer after she was diagnosed.

The probe, headed by provincial Supreme Court Justice Margaret Cameron, will examine why nearly 400 patients were given inaccurate results on their breast cancer tests.

It will also examine why the errors went undetected for eight years, and whether the Eastern Health authority responded to patients and the public in an appropriate and timely manner.

Later Wednesday, Elizabeth White told the inquiry she wasn't made aware of her inaccurate test result until December 2007 - eight years after she was diagnosed with the disease.

She learned of the misread results through a phone message from an oncologist.

White said her husband knew of the mistake after Eastern Health contacted his sister, who was listed as White's alternate contact, but he decided to spare her the news.

"He didn't want to spoil my Christmas," she said.

The province revealed Tuesday that 108 of the almost 400 patients whose tests were misread have since died, though it may never be known how many of them, if any, died as a result of missing out on treatment.

Justice Cameron won't make any conclusions about civil or criminal responsibility.

The provincial government has requested the inquiry deliver a final report by July 30.

What is the public inquiry about?

The inquiry is examining problems with hormone receptor tests conducted between 1997 and 2005 in the Newfoundland and Labrador health-care system. It will look into what happened, when the problems were discovered and whether they should've been detected earlier. It will also try to determine whether the board of the Eastern Health authority responded to patients and the public about the flawed tests in an appropriate and timely manner.

The inquiry won't make conclusions or recommendations about the civil or criminal responsibility of any person or organization.

How many tests were botched?

According to the provincial government, tests belonging to 383 patients were botched. Of those, 108 have died, though it may never be known how many of them, if any, died as a result of missing out on treatment.

Why are these tests important?

Hormone receptor tests are important because they can help doctors determine a patient's course of treatment. If patients are found to be estrogen-and/or progesterone-positive on their hormone receptor test, they may respond to hormone therapy such as Tamoxifen.

If not, they may be given other treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation.

How long will the inquiry last?

The commission of inquiry has been asked to deliver a final report to the provincial health minister by July 30.

Source: Canadian Press

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