Suspended mastectomy doctor will operate
Last Updated: Thursday, March 11, 2010 | 8:49 PM ET
CBC News
Dr. Barbara Heartwell, a Windsor, Ont., surgeon suspended after performing unnecessary mastectomies, will return to the operating room.
Dr. Barbara Heartwell, shown here in October 2009, is currently under review by the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons but has had her operating privileges reinstated at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital in Windsor. (CBC)The board of directors at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital has reinstated Heartwell's operating privileges, with some restrictions, CBC News has confirmed.
Heartwell voluntarily stopped operating last month after it became public that she had removed breasts from at least two women who did not have cancer.
She later asked to have her operating privileges restored, but the hospital put her on suspension instead. A medical advisory committee established by the hospital had recommended to the board in early March that Heartwell be reinstated.
On Wednesday, Heartwell and her lawyer argued her case before the seven-member hospital board, which met for five hours and on Thursday announced the surgeon would be allowed to return to the operating room, subject to some limitations. The meeting was closed to the public.
"The midterm suspension of Dr. Heartwell's privileges was not necessary, because Dr. Heartwell was not an immediate threat to patient safety," board chair Egidio Sovran said.
Heartwell won't be in complete control of her cases, however. She will return to the operating room "with the condition that her elective oncology cases be reviewed by another general surgeon prior to any oncology surgery for a period of three months," Sovran said.
The Ministry of Health is investigating the hospital, but its chief of staff Dr. Gord Vail hopes it will respect the board's decision.
"We think that this will just show them that we are taking everything serious, and that we're trying to put our best foot forward and show them that hey, we are taking responsibility."
Heartwell can return to work tomorrow. It will be up to the hospital's medical advisory committee to decide in three months whether she can return to operating without supervision as she has for nearly three decades.
Decision puzzles former patient
Upon hearing the news of Heartwell's reinstatement, Ginny Hillis, a former patient of Heartwell, told CBC News she is disappointed by the board's decision.
"I'm actually puzzled, because I don't know exactly what they based that decision on," said Hillis.
"I think, frankly, it raises more questions than it answers."
In 1995, Hillis was told by Heartwell that she had malignant breast cancer and that she needed surgery as soon as possible to remove lymph nodes from under her arm.
A few days later, Hillis got a second opinion, which showed she did not have cancer.
Weeks later, a third test confirmed those results.
Hillis said Thursday she expects a full explanation from the hospital board as to why it felt Heartwell should be allowed to operate.
