PAINFUL ENDING TO BOTCHED CANCER TEST NEWFOUNDLAND INQUIRY; CANADIAN PRESS REPORT;

CHES CROSBIE, A LAWYER LEADING A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST EASTERN HEALTH, SAID HE REMAINS SUSPICIOUS OF CLAIMS THAT EASTERN HEALTH HAS A HANDLE ON THE SCOPE OF THE MISTAKES.

"EVERY TIME EASTERN HEALTH RELEASED INFORMATION OR DEALT WITH THE QUESTION OF DISCLOSURE, THEY DID SO IN A WAY SO AS TO MINIMIZE THE DAMAGE AND SPIN IT IN A ROSY GLOW," CROSBIE SAID.

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The Canadian Press has reported that the Newfoundland Inquiry into botched cancer tests ended on a painful note in a story by Tara Brautigam which ran yesterday under the heading: "Breast cancer probe's final witness reveals she only learned this year her test was flawed."

ST. JOHN'S, Nfld.–A public inquiry into hundreds of botched breast cancer tests in Newfoundland concluded on a distressing note yesterday as a Labrador woman testified she didn't learn her test was flawed until this summer – eight years after she was diagnosed with the disease," the story begins;

"The revelation stoked fears that the province still doesn't have a grasp of how many people may have missed out on potentially life-saving treatment because of the mishandled tests," it continues;

"Elizabeth Finlayson, 68, told the inquiry she wondered about the veracity of her breast cancer test after watching media coverage of other patients testifying at the probe in March.

"I saw on the TV about this inquiry that was going on," said Finlayson, the final witness to testify. "There was people on the stand and they were talking and I thought, `That sounds like me.'"

With the help of her daughter, she prodded medical officials for information about the status of her breast cancer test.

They were told that hers was missed in a review of more than 2,000 tests from 1997 to 2005.

It wasn't until this summer that Finlayson, who had her left breast removed in 2000, learned her breast cancer test was misread and that she was disqualified from hormone therapy.

Officials with the Eastern Health authority, the province's largest health board, didn't apologize for the error or for overlooking her in their review of breast cancer tests, Finlayson said.

Ches Crosbie, a lawyer leading a class-action lawsuit against Eastern Health, said he remains suspicious of claims that Eastern Health has a handle on the scope of the mistakes.

"Every time Eastern Health released information or dealt with the question of disclosure, they did so in a way so as to minimize the damage and spin it in a rosy glow," Crosbie said.

"There have been some serious missteps, to say the least, in this lady's treatment. ... She illustrates, I guess in a way, some of the serious slip-ups that have happened all through this sorry tale."

For seven months, the inquiry has heard evidence that the St. John's laboratory that processed the tests was marred by staff shortages, improper training and a lack of internal controls.

Witnesses have also testified to infighting among medical staff, communication lapses between the provincial government and Eastern Health, and failed exercises in damage control.

Patients say they had no inkling there were any problems with their breast cancer tests until October 2005, when a local weekly newspaper reported a small number of patients had questionable test results.

For up to two years, patients and their relatives complained Eastern Health wasn't informing them of reviewed test results.

The general extent of the mistakes wasn't known until last year, after documents were filed with the province's Supreme Court as part of the class-action lawsuit.

Earlier this week, Premier Danny Williams apologized at the inquiry to patients and their families who were affected by the errors on behalf of his and previous provincial governments.

He called the inquiry last year, but was critical of the way it operated, accusing it of conducting an inquisition in the way it questioned government officials.

The inquiry was asked to determine how an estimated 400 patients under Eastern Health's care were given inaccurate results on their breast cancer tests, and whether it responded to patients and the public in an appropriate and timely manner.

Justice Margaret Cameron is expected to deliver a final report with recommendations to the provincial government by the end of February."

Harold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com;