Minister won't resign over Cameron report
Newfoundland and Labrador's health minister says he has no intention of resigning even though he was found lacking in due diligence in Justice Margaret Cameron's report into inaccurate breast cancer testing results.
While Ross Wiseman said Tuesday he accepted responsibility for the actions of his officials in government and the health authorities, he said he felt confident the health system will be strengthened by the lessons that have been learned and the changes that have been made.
Reporters at a news conference in St. John's raised the issue of Wiseman's possible resignation, noting that sections of Cameron's report posed questions about his due diligence.
"In 2007, as the result of an indiscriminate acceptance by the minister of information provided to him by Eastern Health, he communicated to the public inaccurate information regarding patient contact and the quality of laboratory services. The minister's duty of due diligence demanded more," the report said.
When asked how he would respond if the opposition asked for his resignation, Wiseman said he has no intention of stepping down.
"I think … with working collaboratively with the health authorities and other partners in the system and using as a guide recommendations like this commission has provided for us here, we're going to be able to move forward together to strengthen the system, to make the necessary improvements so we don't see a repeat of what's been laid out for you in that document," he said.
Wiseman started his comments to reporters by apologizing on behalf of the government to the victims and their families.
Peter Dawe, the executive director of the Canadian Cancer Society in Newfoundland and Labrador called Wiseman's apology "a little hollow at this time."
"The government has apologized before. Everybody that was supposed to apologize have apologized. That's not the issue anymore," he said.
"The story really is about these women and the handful of men, what they went through — they're still going through it. There's people that have passed away from this, and I don't think that the apology is the issue at all."
Team to review recommendations
Wiseman said a team will begin the initial review process of the 60 recommendations contained in the report's three volumes.
"Our government has already taken significant steps to address issues related to the hormone receptor testing issue, including but not limited to funding for enhanced data management and planning for the establishment of an accreditation system for laboratories and diagnostic imaging services," he said.
Wiseman said the government plans to make progress by the March 31, 2010, reporting date recommended by Cameron.
Cameron heard evidence over a seven-month period on how almost 400 breast cancer patients received the wrong test results. A year ago, the government disclosed that 108 of those patients had died, although it will never be known if different treatments could have extended or saved lives.