Operational Deficiencies
Dr. Barbara Heartwell, a well-regarded, experienced surgeon, and a colleague, pathologist Dr. Olive Williams have been placed under investigation by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. The Ontario Ministry of Health has also launched a probe into surgical and pathology errors in Windsor, in surgeries which took place at Hotel-Dieu Hospital. Indeed, the hospital itself stated that it planned to launch an internal investigation.
With good reason. A woman from Leamington, Ontario underwent a mastectomy, despite that she did not have cancer. Despite that little fact, Dr. Heartwell authoritatively, on the basis of her vast decades of experience as a highly-praised oncologist insisted that Ms. Johnston had no option but to undergo surgery. Ms. Johnston, unsurprisingly, fearful for her life, deferred to the professional experience of Dr. Heartwell.
Only to learn later that the surgery was unnecessary. And then it was revealed that another woman, two years earlier, also underwent radical mastectomy at the insistence of Dr. Barbara Heartwell, who had gone so far as to inform the woman's husband that he should be prepared for a worst-case scenario. And Dr. Heartwell had, on this occasion, denied that the woman might benefit from a second opinion; for one thing her condition was so dire, she hadn't the time to waste...
"To learn that my breast was removed unnecessarily is devastating for me and [my family]. Sometimes, I'm alone and I just sit there and think about it, and I start to cry", she said. "If I'm not crying, I'm angry, I'm anxious." Who wouldn't resonate to those emotions? Is there a worse diagnosis ever heard by any woman than that she has cancer, and advanced cancer at that, so advanced she has no time to wait, and must undergo surgery as soon as possible.
Foregoing a second opinion. After the fact, the president of the Canadian Medical Association, Dr. Anne Doig, made a public statement, that no one should hesitate to seek a second opinion when facing a serious diagnosis and treatment options. They should discuss the issue with the initial doctor who made the diagnosis and be "unafraid" to seek a second opinion. Well, there's nothing particularly new in that; people are always encouraged to do just that.
Unfortunately for Dr. Heartwell's patients, this surgeon's ego was so splendidly self-assured that she simply could not conceive of her diagnosis undergoing a second opinion. So two women went through the agony of breast removals that were completely uncalled for. And Hotel Dieu Hospital was not alert to the situation where apparent carelessness once occurred, might re-occur. Nor was the oncologist who once made a dreadful error sufficiently attuned to her own failings.
Ms. Johnson has filed a lawsuit, alleging that Dr. Heartwell failed to properly diagnose her condition, and that the doctor "failed to read or properly understand" the pathology report that indicated Ms. Johnston's lump was benign. And that Dr. Williams who had examined the biopsy samples had produced a confused pathology report to begin with, effectively contributing to the surgeon's error.
The hospital suspended Dr. Williams, while Dr. Heartwell voluntarily undertook to remove herself from the performance of surgeries at Hotel Dieu Hospital. While her past cases are under review. "We are profoundly sorry that this tragic situation has occurred and we know this is an extremely difficult time for Ms. Johnston", was the message delivered to the media by the hospital's CEO.
In addition, it was revealed that the hospital offered its support to Ms. Johnston and "...will continue to do so". How might they do that, one wonders; restore her breast? Assure her that such a dreadful misadventure will never again occur to bring misery to another woman? Well, it would appear, they've done that by restoring surgery privileges to Dr. Heartwell who had second thoughts about sitting at home and pondering her professionalism.
In the meantime, the $1-million in general and special damages, and additional $1-million in punitive and aggravated damages that Ms. Johnston seeks in her lawsuit may eventually result in some measure of satisfaction. It's clear there is no other available to her.
With good reason. A woman from Leamington, Ontario underwent a mastectomy, despite that she did not have cancer. Despite that little fact, Dr. Heartwell authoritatively, on the basis of her vast decades of experience as a highly-praised oncologist insisted that Ms. Johnston had no option but to undergo surgery. Ms. Johnston, unsurprisingly, fearful for her life, deferred to the professional experience of Dr. Heartwell.
Only to learn later that the surgery was unnecessary. And then it was revealed that another woman, two years earlier, also underwent radical mastectomy at the insistence of Dr. Barbara Heartwell, who had gone so far as to inform the woman's husband that he should be prepared for a worst-case scenario. And Dr. Heartwell had, on this occasion, denied that the woman might benefit from a second opinion; for one thing her condition was so dire, she hadn't the time to waste...
"To learn that my breast was removed unnecessarily is devastating for me and [my family]. Sometimes, I'm alone and I just sit there and think about it, and I start to cry", she said. "If I'm not crying, I'm angry, I'm anxious." Who wouldn't resonate to those emotions? Is there a worse diagnosis ever heard by any woman than that she has cancer, and advanced cancer at that, so advanced she has no time to wait, and must undergo surgery as soon as possible.
Foregoing a second opinion. After the fact, the president of the Canadian Medical Association, Dr. Anne Doig, made a public statement, that no one should hesitate to seek a second opinion when facing a serious diagnosis and treatment options. They should discuss the issue with the initial doctor who made the diagnosis and be "unafraid" to seek a second opinion. Well, there's nothing particularly new in that; people are always encouraged to do just that.
Unfortunately for Dr. Heartwell's patients, this surgeon's ego was so splendidly self-assured that she simply could not conceive of her diagnosis undergoing a second opinion. So two women went through the agony of breast removals that were completely uncalled for. And Hotel Dieu Hospital was not alert to the situation where apparent carelessness once occurred, might re-occur. Nor was the oncologist who once made a dreadful error sufficiently attuned to her own failings.
Ms. Johnson has filed a lawsuit, alleging that Dr. Heartwell failed to properly diagnose her condition, and that the doctor "failed to read or properly understand" the pathology report that indicated Ms. Johnston's lump was benign. And that Dr. Williams who had examined the biopsy samples had produced a confused pathology report to begin with, effectively contributing to the surgeon's error.
The hospital suspended Dr. Williams, while Dr. Heartwell voluntarily undertook to remove herself from the performance of surgeries at Hotel Dieu Hospital. While her past cases are under review. "We are profoundly sorry that this tragic situation has occurred and we know this is an extremely difficult time for Ms. Johnston", was the message delivered to the media by the hospital's CEO.
In addition, it was revealed that the hospital offered its support to Ms. Johnston and "...will continue to do so". How might they do that, one wonders; restore her breast? Assure her that such a dreadful misadventure will never again occur to bring misery to another woman? Well, it would appear, they've done that by restoring surgery privileges to Dr. Heartwell who had second thoughts about sitting at home and pondering her professionalism.
In the meantime, the $1-million in general and special damages, and additional $1-million in punitive and aggravated damages that Ms. Johnston seeks in her lawsuit may eventually result in some measure of satisfaction. It's clear there is no other available to her.
Labels: Health, Human Relations, Realities
posted by Pieface @ 6:36 PM
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