-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a prelude to war! Women had breasts removed in error By Celia Hall, Medical Editor Royal College of Pathologists UK Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign Cancer Research Campaign Department of Health TWO women had breasts removed unnecessarily because a pathologist wrongly indicated that they had cancer. The hospital trust involved has now ordered an internal investigation of breast biopsies from women attending Kent & Canterbury and Margate hospitals between 1990 and 1997. These were carried out by one histopathologist who has not been named and is no longer working in the area. A "few hundred" breast biopsies are to be reviewed, a spokesman said. One of the women who underwent the needless mastectomy has been informed by the hospital. The second woman is believed to be living abroad. Both women were wrongly diagnosed in 1990. The errors came to light in an investigation by the Royal College of Pathologists, which was requested because of earlier problems with cervical screening results at Kent & Canterbury Hospital before 1995. Then, eight women died and 30 needed surgery for cancer. The histopatholoy audit was recommended by the external inquiry team called on to investigate the cervical cytology service in 1997. The latest investigation did not include any cervical smear tests. The pathologists' report is based on 2,621 samples of tissue sent for laboratory testing for a range of different diseases, including cancers. The analysis found serious errors in diagnosis in seven that would "definitely" have an effect on the patient's condition. In another 35 cases it was found that the discrepancies would "potentially" affect the patient's treatment. One of the women who had the unnecessary mastectomy was in the first category, the other was in the second category. The remaining 40 patients have been identified and are being contacted by the hospital. However, the report says: "The error rate was within the expected range and thus there is no indication to carry out a further external retrospective review." David Astley, chief executive of the East Kent NHS Trust, said: "So far it is clear that two patients had unnecessary mastectomies. We have seen one of them and told her and her family what has happened. I've written her a personal letter of apology on behalf of the hospital and the NHS. The other lady is abroad and we are trying to get in touch with her." Mr Astley said women who had breast biopsies examined by the unnamed histopathologist will have their results re-checked. "We expect this audit to involve a few hundred women and to take months rather than years to complete. We are now confident we have got multiple checking procedures in place and an open culture in which mistakes can be recognised". Prof Roderick MacSween, President of the Royal College of Pathologists, said: "The report indicates that the errors fell within the acceptable range. However there were seven serious mistakes and 35 with a lesser degree of seriousness. We would regard that as acceptable on a professional basis but clearly it isn't acceptable to a woman who has been misdiagnosed. The errors are the result of unavoidable human mistakes." **COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
