Health Corp. apologizes for faulty breast cancer tests

The largest health-care corporation in Newfoundland has apologized for failing to fully disclose a review that found hundreds of woman, including 36 who died, received a false result on their breast cancer tests.

Eastern Health CEOGeorge Tilley acknowledges the health corporation knew that more than 300 patients got incorrect results, but initially they only acknowledged 117 cases of women whose treatment changed as a result of new tests.

Tilley told a news conference Friday he takes full responsibility.

"I also appreciate that this issue must be causing incredible anxiety for the families of the women who have passed away," Tilley told reporters. "We sincerely regret that. Unfortunately we simply do not know how many of these patients may have benefited from hormonal therapy," but didn't get it because of the inaccurate results.

The issue, revolving around faulty breast cancer testing done from 1997 to 2005, has sparked a potential class-action suit and threatened to shake public confidence in the health system in the province.

When a breast cancer tumour is removed, tests are done to determine the best treatment depending on whether the cancer cells have estrogen or progesterone receptors. Over 300 women got a false-negative result, meaning they may have been denied an alternate treatment for their cancer. It is not clear that if the 36 other women who didn't get treatment and died could have been saved with different therapies.

Eastern Health first became aware of the problem in 2005, Tilley said. That's when it stopped doing its own tests and began sending all breast cancer tests, including suspect results from tests as far back as 1997, to Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital to be redone.

The first results came back from Mount Sinai in October 2005, and Eastern Health notified the public that 117 results had changed.

Tilley acknowledged that the health corporation did not speak publicly about the additional patients who had a change in test result but no change in treatment plan. But all the women were notified about the changes in their test results.

"We believed at the time that the decision to focus on the 117 was the right one because this was, in our estimation, the critical piece of information. That being said, given the reaction that has come from not releasing the second number, I regret that decision and apologize for any confusion this has caused," he said.

Opposition politicians from two parties have called for a full public inquiry. Premier Danny Williams appears to be leaning in that direction, saying the government has a "moral responsibility" to get to the bottom of it as quickly as possible.

A St. John's lawyer is leading a potential class-action lawsuit against Eastern Health on behalf of over 40 survivors and the families of the dead women. Ches Crosbie will be in a St. John's court next week to try to certify the action