An independent inquiry into the case of a Tipperary woman whose breast cancer diagnosis was delayed for 14 months is to be carried out by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).
The chief executive of the new authority, which was only last week put on a statutory footing, will today meet Rebecca O'Malley to discuss the parameters of and timescale for the inquiry into her misdiagnosis.
The 41-year-old mother of three from Ballina, near Killaloe, had a biopsy at the Midwestern Regional Hospital, Limerick, in March 2005 to test for suspected breast cancer. The sample was sent to a laboratory at Cork University Hospital (CUH), which reported it to be normal. However, 14 months later, when she had a second biopsy the test showed she did have cancer. She underwent a mastectomy and a course of chemotherapy before it emerged the first test did, in fact, show malignancy.
A CUH report into her case, published last week, found "an interpretive human error" led to her incorrect diagnosis in the first place, but the report, Ms O'Malley said, left many questions unanswered.
She called for an independent investigation into her case and yesterday welcomed the inquiry.
This will be the first major inquiry for HIQA, an independent body established to help improve quality and safety in the health services. It reports directly to the Minister for Health.
"I feel reassured the HIQA is determined to carry out this comprehensive and far-reaching investigation quickly and thoroughly in order to uncover the truth of what happened in my case, who else might be affected and, through the eventual recommendations, highlight the lessons that need to be learned from this disaster and the steps that need to be taken to prevent it ever happening again," Ms O'Malley said.
She had received a phone call yesterday from Dr Tracey Cooper, chief executive of HIQA, to discuss the inquiry and had been assured the findings would be made public and that those responsible for the mistakes made in her case would be named and held accountable. Prof Brendan Drumm, chief executive of the HSE, had also telephoned her and supported her demand for an independent inquiry.
Announcing the inquiry yesterday, Prof Drumm said an independent investigation was "a sensible course of action".
He added: "This investigation will enable the HSE learn from how it responded to Ms O'Malley with a view to improving future services to patients."
Ms O'Malley, who is due to meet the Minister for Health next week, is also calling for new legislation that makes it mandatory for medical errors to be reported to patients, or their family, with strong penalties if it is not done.