Date: Sat. Dec. 3 2011
Serious mistakes by one Alberta pathologist has forced a round-the-clock re-examination of more than 100 prostate exams and more than 1,500 other tests at Edmonton's Royal Alexandra Hospital this weekend.
After reviewing 126 of the 159 prostate biopsies in question, 15 patients who had been told they didn't have cancer have now been told they do have cancer cells in their prostates. The review also showed 14 reports had underestimated the aggressiveness of the cancer, 46 had minor discrepancies and 51 showed no discrepancies.
The medical crisis brought an abject apology from the head of Alberta Health Services.
"First of all, I want to sincerely apologize for any distress and concern that this incident will have, or has had on patients and families in Alberta," said AHS president and CEO Chris Eagle while announcing the review on Friday.
"These discrepancies are significant and the change in reporting may impact the future treatment of some patients."
Eagle said the review of the test results was launched after a urologist operating on a patient at the hospital noticed that there was a significant difference between what he was seeing during surgery and what the pathologist's report had stated.
The pathologist who wrote the reports on 1,700 exams conducted between July and September has since retired, Eagle said, adding his name would not be made public.
"We work in an environment where we don't blame or shame the concept of a justice and trust culture," the AHS head said.
Bill Taylor, a prostate cancer survivor, told CTV he was shocked by the misreading of the tests.
"That would be quite upsetting," he said. "If you were told your results were understated and you didn't have any problems, it would be pretty horrifying to find out a year later or some months later you might have a problem."
The Edmonton review by the Health Quality Council follows a similar situation in Calgary where tests conducted at Rockyview General Hospital were re-examined last month.
Alberta Liberal leader Raj Sherman said the provincial government should look into the faulty test results.
"That's twice now," he said. "These are not isolated incidents. Is this happening elsewhere? The public needs answers on this."
After reviewing 126 of the 159 prostate biopsies in question, 15 patients who had been told they didn't have cancer have now been told they do have cancer cells in their prostates. The review also showed 14 reports had underestimated the aggressiveness of the cancer, 46 had minor discrepancies and 51 showed no discrepancies.
The medical crisis brought an abject apology from the head of Alberta Health Services.
"First of all, I want to sincerely apologize for any distress and concern that this incident will have, or has had on patients and families in Alberta," said AHS president and CEO Chris Eagle while announcing the review on Friday.
"These discrepancies are significant and the change in reporting may impact the future treatment of some patients."
Eagle said the review of the test results was launched after a urologist operating on a patient at the hospital noticed that there was a significant difference between what he was seeing during surgery and what the pathologist's report had stated.
The pathologist who wrote the reports on 1,700 exams conducted between July and September has since retired, Eagle said, adding his name would not be made public.
"We work in an environment where we don't blame or shame the concept of a justice and trust culture," the AHS head said.
Bill Taylor, a prostate cancer survivor, told CTV he was shocked by the misreading of the tests.
"That would be quite upsetting," he said. "If you were told your results were understated and you didn't have any problems, it would be pretty horrifying to find out a year later or some months later you might have a problem."
The Edmonton review by the Health Quality Council follows a similar situation in Calgary where tests conducted at Rockyview General Hospital were re-examined last month.
Alberta Liberal leader Raj Sherman said the provincial government should look into the faulty test results.
"That's twice now," he said. "These are not isolated incidents. Is this happening elsewhere? The public needs answers on this."
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