Fw: Woman given double mastecomy in error ...

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One of a woman's worst nightmares at the hands of those whose "job" is caring for our health....

----- Original Message ----- From: ilena rose

Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2003 8:45 AM

Subject: Woman given double mastecomy in error ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/19/national/19SURG.html

Hospital Apologizes for Surgical MistakeBy THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

T. PAUL Jan. 18 — A hospital here has apologized for a laboratory mistake that led a woman to receive an unneeded double mastectomy.

Dr. Foley, medical director of United Hospital, told a local television station on Friday that the hospital had made changes to ensure that "this kind of mix-up would never happen again."

The woman, McDougal, 46, said that in May 2002 her doctor had a biopsy performed when a suspicious spot appeared on her mammogram. Ms. McDougal said she was told that she had an aggressive form of cancer and that a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation were her only chances for survival. In June, she had the surgery.

Two days later, she was recovering when her doctor visited. "She had bad news," Ms. McDougal said. "She didn't know how to tell us other than to just tell us, and immediately I thought I was dying, and she told me I didn't have cancer."

Ms. McDougal said her doctor discovered that tissue from Ms. McDougal's biopsy had been switched with tissue from another woman in United's laboratory.

Dr. Foley said the woman who actually had the cancer had been contacted and treated.

A lawyer representing United's pathologists said the group's insurance company had paid Ms. McDougal's medical expenses and lost wages. Ms. McDougal said she was fighting several infections and would undergo reconstructive surgery before she decided whether to sue for malpractice.

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