Team of experts to investigate cancer test error

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) yesterday announced that an eight-person expert team from Ireland and the UK will carry out an investigation into the case of Tipperary woman Rebecca O'Malley, whose breast cancer diagnosis was delayed for 14 months.

It said that in addition to investigating the circumstances surrounding the care provided to Ms O'Malley in relation to her symptomatic breast disease, the inquiry would also examine the pathology services provided by the Health Service Executive at Cork University Hospital and the symptomatic breast disease services provided by the Health Service Executive at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick.

Ms O'Malley, from Ballina near Killaloe, had a biopsy at the Midwestern Regional Hospital, Limerick, in March 2005 to test her for suspected breast cancer. The sample was sent to a laboratory at Cork University Hospital, which reported it to be normal.

However, 14 months later, when she had a second biopsy, the test showed she did have cancer. She underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy before it emerged the first test did, in fact, show malignancy.

A report by the Cork hospital into her case, published last month, found "an interpretive human error" led to her incorrect diagnosis. However, Ms O'Malley said that the report left many questions unanswered.

In a statement yesterday HIQA chief executive Dr Tracey Cooper said: "The terms of reference will allow the investigation team to conduct a thorough and robust investigation into all aspects of the care received by Rebecca O'Malley.

"The investigation team includes experts from Ireland and the United Kingdom, as well as representatives of patient groups."

Dr Cooper said that the investigation report and its recommendations would be published upon its completion.

The members of the investigation team are: Dr Michael Durkin (investigation lead), medical director, South West Strategic Health Authority, UK; Dr Gerard Boran, Dean of Faculty of Pathology, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland; Prof Arnold Hill, consultant surgeon, Beaumont Hospital; Christine Murphy-White, chairwoman of Europa Donna Ireland; Dr Maireád Griffin, consultant histopathologist, St James's Hospital; Dr Anne O'Doherty, consultant radiologist, Breastcheck, St Vincent's hospital; Sheila O'Connor, co-ordinator for Patient Focus; and Eddie Kinsella, independent consultant, Exemplar Consulting Limited, UK.