"THE SAME STEADY HANDS THAT HELD SCALPELS OVER CANCER PATIENTS – AND IN TWO CASES MISTAKENLY REMOVED BREAST TISSUE FROM HEALTHY WOMEN – HAVE ALSO TWISTED HIGH-END CRYSTALS, CORAL AND SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES INTO FASHION JEWELLERY FOR FRIENDS AND ONLINE CUSTOMERS AS A WAY FOR A WINDSOR SURGEON TO FEED HER CREATIVE URGE. "THE NEED TO FIX IS ALSO LINKED TO THE NEED TO CREATE," WROTE BARBARA HEARTWELL ON HER "DESIGNER DOCS" WEBSITE, EXPLAINING A LIFELONG PASSION OF WORKING WITH HER HANDS.
FEATURE WRITER MARY ORMSBY: THE TORONTO STAR;
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PUBLISHER'S NOTE: During the past two years, this Blog has reported on a crisis in Canadian pathology indicated by serious breakdowns in hospitals in Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Quebec, Saskatchewan and elsewhere in the country. The purpose, beyond seeking review and reform, is to show that the wide-ranging problems with pathology in Canada were not limited to the criminal sector - and that serious errors, sometimes lethal, were being made in reading test results on living patients. In short, to demonstrate that there was a crisis in Canadian pathology.
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"Swarovski crystal beads twinkle on gold-filled wires as delicate pendant earrings," Toronto Star feature writer Mary Ormsby's story, published earlier today, begins, under the heading "Doctor in surgeries probe had a knack for making jewellery: When not using scalpel, Windsor surgeon crafts one-of-a-kind jewellery."
"A 50-centimetre brass, onyx and turquoise strand laces behind the neck, a turquoise and crystal bauble hanging heavily in front, below the throat," the story continues.
"The same steady hands that held scalpels over cancer patients – and in two cases mistakenly removed breast tissue from healthy women – have also twisted high-end crystals, coral and semi-precious stones into fashion jewellery for friends and online customers as a way for a Windsor surgeon to feed her creative urge.
"The need to fix is also linked to the need to create," wrote Barbara Heartwell on her "Designer Docs" website, explaining a lifelong passion of working with her hands.
Those nimble fingers are now idle, at least in the operating room of Windsor's Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital.
Heartwell, who performed mastectomies on two healthy patients in error, has voluntarily removed herself from performing surgery.
Hôtel-Dieu says serious concerns have surfaced about seven cases at the hospital since an unrelated review of pathology results was launched in November. Five of those patients are Heartwell's, including the two who had mistaken mastectomies.
In her other line of work, which she described as a stress reliever, Heartwell makes baubles with plastic surgeon friend Isabel Chow. The pair often sold their wares at a hospital kiosk for $15 to $120, donating portions of sales to the hospital's Heart of the City Foundation.
Chow could not be reached to comment on her friend. Staff at Chow's office said Thursday the plastic surgeon was not in the office, but added she has "no comment on anything."
On their website – designerdocs.wordpress.com – Heartwell wrote that as a young girl, she could not ignore an injured animal, a compassion that translated later into caring for people.
"As a child, I dragged home every sick and injured animal I found, in a vain effort to save them. My favourite pet was a cat who provided me with an endless supply of captured birds, snakes and bats. The obvious genetic need to help, fix and cure continued into adulthood when I became a general surgeon."
Heartwell, also a seamstress and knitter, said the tactile sensation of materials gave her pleasure.
"And yes, I am one of those people who needs to touch, squeeze and otherwise fondle all the beautiful balls of wool and bolts of fabric that are available," she wrote, simply signing her webpage letter "Barb."
According to a Windsor Star story in 2008, the Designer Docs – whose slogan is "Cool jewels made by the skilled hand of a surgeon" – became a niche market for special orders in the medical community.
"I'll have brides come in with the fabric for their bridesmaids' dresses and they'll want me to do something in crystals," Heartwell told The Windsor Star.
The 1972 University of Toronto graduate said she preferred making one-of-a-kind jewellery.
"A piece doesn't go out till I'm sure I'm done with it," Heartwell told the Windsor newspaper. "I'm not interested in mass production. It's not an assembly line."
The wife of a former Heartwell patient has defended the care he received from her.
Windsor resident Joan Jolin wrote in a letter to The Windsor Star that her husband had been misdiagnosed by their family doctor in 1983 as suffering only from gallstones and "Dr. Heartwell was one of several doctors responsible for saving my husband's life," by finding a tumour attached to his ribs."
The story can be found at:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/771859--doctor-in-surgeries-probe-had-a-knack-for-making-jewellery
Harold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com;
