Cameron to deliver breast cancer inquiry report Feb. 28
Last Updated: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 | 6:18 PM NT
CBC News
Justice Margaret Cameron, who oversaw months of testimony on how hundreds of breast cancer patients were given flawed lab test results, will give politicians plenty to read this week.
Cameron will deliver her final report on hormone receptor tests on Saturday, Health Minister Ross Wiseman said in a statement late Wednesday afternoon.
Wiseman said government intends to release the report publicly on Monday.
Between last March and October, Cameron heard often compelling — and sometimes heartbreaking — testimony about what went wrong between 1997 and 2005, when more than 400 breast cancer patients were erroneously given the wrong results on specific lab tests. The wrong results meant that some patients missed out on receiving potentially lifesaving antihormonal treatment.
Cameron, who sits on the Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court (Court of Appeal), also focused on how officials with Eastern Health and the provincial government dealt with lab problems and the hormone receptor testing crisis when it emerged in 2005.
Premier Danny Williams, who issued a public apology to patients and their families while testifying before Cameron in late October, said his government would act quickly on whatever recommendations the commission presented.
Williams called for the commission in 2007, shortly after it emerged that Eastern Health had withheld important information about the hormone receptor tests.
As well, the inquiry learned about how Eastern Health had decided in 2005 to not inform patients or the public about its decision to retest samples taken from patients.
Cameron was told that officials were concerned about litigation, while some physicians were also worried about alarming their patients.
A class action suit has been certified in Newfoundland Supreme Court over the issue.
Share Tools
Latest Nfld. & Labrador News Headlines
- RNC investigating Corner Brook death
- The RNC and paramedics answered a call about an unresponsive man lying near O'Connell Drive at about 11:30 a.m. more »
- Man dies in crash near Bay Roberts
- A 47-year-old man has died in a crash near Bay Roberts early this morning, according to police. more »
- Bay de Verde Peninsula fire contained
- A forest fire near Lead Cove, at the tip of the Bay de Verde Peninsula, has been contained. more »
- DND allowed IceCaps to use jet image, says document
- DND is allowing the the IceCaps to use an image of its fighter jets on the team's shoulder patches – even though it wasn't specifically mentioned in the department's agreement with the IceCaps' parent team. more »
Top News Headlines
- Teen struck by lightning in Ottawa dies
- The victim of a Friday lightning strike during a storm in east Ottawa has died, CBC News has learned. more »
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- Bad weather has hampered the recovery team that is attempting to bring down the body of a Toronto woman who died trying to climb Mt. Everest. more »
- 32 Syrian children die in artillery attack, says UN
- More than 90 people have been killed by regime forces in a district of central Syria, with the head of the UN team in the country confirming at least 32 children and 60 adults were killed the attack. more »
- Woman's remains found in hockey bag on Cape Breton river
- Police in Nova Scotia are investigating after a woman's remains were found in a hockey bag floating on a Cape Breton river Friday night. more »
- 700-hectare Labrador fire has moved off CF base
- Man dies in crash near Bay Roberts
- DND allowed IceCaps to use jet image, says document
- Industrial area of Goose Bay evacuated as fire burns
- Moose petition calls for caution on management plan
- Bonavista, N.L., 'coyote' was really wolf, tests confirm
- Province mum on plans for spending scandal lawsuits
- Seasonal workers anxious about changes to EI system
- Scores of cats removed from Corner Brook house

