"ON FEB. 23, HEARTWELL VOLUNTARILY STOPPED PERFORMING SURGERIES AT HOTEL-DIEU AFTER IT WAS REVEALED SHE ALSO REMOVED JANICE LAPORTE'S CANCER-FREE BREAST IN 2001. BUT THREE DAYS LATER, HEARTWELL "UNEXPECTEDLY" WITHDREW HER AGREEMENT AND WANTED TO RETURN TO THE OPERATING ROOM. IN A RARE MOVE, HOTEL-DIEU'S INTERIM CHIEF OF STAFF AT THE TIME, DR. KEVIN TRACEY, IMMEDIATELY SUSPENDED HER PRIVILEGES, HOSPITAL OFFICIALS SAID TUESDAY. UNDER THE ONTARIO PUBLIC HOSPITALS ACT AND HOSPITAL BYLAWS GOVERNING PROFESSIONAL STAFF, HEARTWELL WAS ENTITLED TO HAVE HER SUSPENSION REVIEWED BY HOTEL-DIEU'S MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE -- COMPRISED OF LEADING PHYSICIANS AT THE HOSPITAL -- WITHIN FIVE DAYS. THE COMMITTEE THEN MAKES A RECOMMENDATION TO THE HOSPITAL'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON WHETHER TO REINSTATE HEARTWELL'S PRIVILEGES. A PANEL OF BOARD MEMBERS WILL HEAR SUBMISSIONS TODAY FROM THE MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND HEARTWELL, WHO WILL ATTEND THE HEARING WITH HER LAWYER."
REPORTER SONJA PUZIC: THE WINDSOR 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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"WINDSOR, Ont. - A Windsor surgeon who performed two unnecessary mastectomies is seeking to have her privileges reinstated at Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital in the midst of three investigations into her practice," the Windsor Star story by reporter Sonja Puzic, published earlier today begins, under the heading "Windsor surgeon Barbara Heartwell wants Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital privileges restored."
"Dr. Barbara Heartwell, under investigation by the hospital, the Ontario Ministry of Health and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, will make her case before a panel of hospital board members at a formal hearing this afternoon," the story continues.
"Heartwell's troubles began three weeks ago, when Hotel-Dieu announced she had misread a pathology report and performed an unnecessary mastectomy last fall on Leamington woman Laurie Johnston, who never had breast cancer.
On Feb. 23, Heartwell voluntarily stopped performing surgeries at Hotel-Dieu after it was revealed she also removed Janice Laporte's cancer-free breast in 2001.
But three days later, Heartwell "unexpectedly" withdrew her agreement and wanted to return to the operating room.
In a rare move, Hotel-Dieu's interim chief of staff at the time, Dr. Kevin Tracey, immediately suspended her privileges, hospital officials said Tuesday.
Under the Ontario Public Hospitals Act and hospital bylaws governing professional staff, Heartwell was entitled to have her suspension reviewed by Hotel-Dieu's medical advisory committee -- comprised of leading physicians at the hospital -- within five days.
The committee then makes a recommendation to the hospital's board of directors on whether to reinstate Heartwell's privileges.
A panel of board members will hear submissions today from the medical advisory committee and Heartwell, who will attend the hearing with her lawyer.
Hospital board chairman Egidio Sovran said the board will act as a quasi-judicial decision-maker and "must act impartially in accordance with relevant legislation."
The board will make its decision after considering arguments from both sides.
Heartwell can appeal the decision to the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board, an independent tribunal that holds hearings concerning doctors' hospital privileges.
Hotel-Dieu has been reviewing Heartwell's past cases.
The Ministry of Health also got involved, sending investigators to Windsor.
The ministry is also reviewing about 3,000 pathology reports following the Jan. 4 suspension of pathologist Dr. Olive Williams over errors in her work.
Williams, who analyzed specimens for all three area hospitals, has since resigned from Hotel-Dieu.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons is investigating both Heartwell and Williams."
The story can be found
http://www.windsorstar.com/health/Heartwell+seek+reinstatement+privileges+hospital+hearing+today/2664785/story.html
Harold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com
