Windsor hospital probes other 'cases of concern'

Two patients who had unnecessary breast cancer surgeries are not the only "cases of concern," says Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital in Windsor, Ont.

The hospital revealed Wednesday it had been doing a review of pathology since November and had uncovered seven serious cases of concern, five involving patients of Dr. Barbara Heartwell.

The hospital started a review of Heartwell's cases after the first of those cases came to light. At the time, Heartwell indicated they would find "additional cases of concern" relating to incorrect pathology reports, Dr. Kevin Tracey, the hospital's interim chief of staff, said Wednesday.

The company providing the pathology services also serves two other area hospitals. In January, the hospital suspended the privileges of one pathologist, who was also reported to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, Tracey said.

The pathology issues have so far been confined to that pathologist, but as officials expand the scope of the probe the hospital doesn't know what they may find, he said.

"We have no doubt that these revelations have prompted a high level of concern in our community," Tracey said. "We share in that concern and will do all that we can to address individual patient issues."

Heartwell has voluntarily stopped performing surgeries pending the results of the probe. Any patients with concerns about their care were asked to call (519) 255-2213.

Two cases involving Heartwell have been made public so far. The latest was Janice Laporte of Sarnia, whom Heartwell operated on in 2001. A report later revealed the woman did not need the mastectomy. Laporte's case was the second to come to light in less than a week.

In November 2009, Heartwell did a mastectomy on Laurie Johnston, 44, of Leamington. It was only in a followup appointment that Heartwell told Johnston she had never had cancer. The hospital revealed Heartwell had misread the initial pathology report.

'A breast is a part of a woman, it's part of your identity.' — Janice Laporte

Hospital administration was alerted to the error after being contacted by local media. It immediately launched an investigation and a review of Heartwell's mastectomy files.

In a statement released Tuesday, the hospital said it had received detailed information about another incident in which a patient was "tragically harmed."

When Laporte heard there was another woman who underwent an unnecessary mastectomy by the same surgeon, she said she decided to go public with her story.

"I was very devastated, because I went through everything all over again, I cried," Laporte told CBC News.

"I can't sit back. They have to know this is not the first time."

'All I heard was that I didn't have cancer'

In August 2001, Laporte's family doctor sent her for an ultrasound test on a lump in her breast that Laporte said she'd had for years.

She was later referred to Heartwell.

"There was a biopsy done at Windsor Regional Hospital, which was inconclusive," said Laporte.

Laporte said one week after the surgery, she was called back to Heartwell's office, where she said the doctor told her there was both good news and bad news.

"She said: 'The good news is you don't have cancer,' " Laporte said Wednesday.

"And I said: 'Well, what's the bad news?' She said: 'I just did a mastectomy on a woman who didn't need it.' "

Laporte said she initially felt sorry for her doctor, who she said began to cry after breaking the news that the mastectomy had been performed in error.

"All I heard was that I didn't have cancer, and nothing else mattered to me at that point."

Laporte said it was only after she left Heartwell's office that she began to question what had happened. She and her husband later sued Heartwell for $600,000 plus legal costs and whatever damages a court might deem justified.

"A breast is a part of a woman, it's part of your identity," said Laporte.

The lawsuit was settled, and both parties entered into a confidentiality agreement.

"The hospital is deeply troubled by these incidents and is firmly resolved to fully investigate and take whatever measures are required," said Warren Chant, hospital CEO.

Hospital spokeswoman Kim Spirou said Heartwell is a surgeon with 28 years of experience and who, until recently, had a spotless record.