Woman who had unnecessary mastectomy says she had to speak out

When Janice LaPorte was called to her breast-cancer surgeon's office at 8 a.m. a week after her mastectomy in September, 2001, she braced herself for a death sentence.

In the previous week, her husband, Paul, was advised to get their affairs in order, that the prognosis wasn't good.

But there was good news, said Barbara Heartwell, her surgeon at Hôtel-Dieu hospital in Windsor, Ont. Ms. LaPorte didn't have cancer.

And there was bad news. Through tears, Dr. Heartwell told her she had mistakenly done the surgery.

"I actually got out of my chair and hugged her because I felt bad for her," Ms. LaPorte, 58, said last night from her home in Sarnia, Ont.

"And then after I left her office, I said to my husband, 'What just happened in there?'"

Happy to be alive, she got on with her life, she said. But when the hospital announced a similar case nearly 10 years later and said Dr. Heartwell hadn't made any other errors, Ms. LaPorte decided to speak out.

"Two people is unthinkable," she said last night. "There should not be a third."

Ontario will conduct a review of the two unnecessary mastectomies done at a Windsor hospital.

Ms. LaPorte and Laurie Johnston each had a breast removed by Dr. Heartwell in 2001 and 2009 respectively at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital in Windsor.

The hospital is also reviewing unrelated pathology cases.

Dr. Heartwell, who has 28 years' experience, has stopped performing surgeries at the hospital, although she still treats patients there.

The privileges of pathologist Olive Williams were suspended at the hospital early last month.

The two mastectomy cases did not involve incorrect pathology reports.

Kevin Tracey, interim chief of staff at Hôtel-Dieu Grace, said the hospital has uncovered seven serious cases of concern but only two involve medically questionable actions by Dr. Heartwell.

"I am troubled by it, it is something that we are committed to getting to the absolute bottom of," Dr. Tracey said. "I'm not going to leave any stone unturned."

Dr. Heartwell told hospital officials that other cases of concern may be found due to incorrect pathology reports.

Hôtel-Dieu Grace began a review of a pathologist after its chief pathologist learned of an adverse medical event, said Kim Spirou, vice-president of communications for Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital.

That probe has been broadened to include all local pathology services - two other hospitals and Windsor Essex Pathology Associates.

The investigation is to review about 15,000 pathology reports done at all three hospitals in the region since 2003, Ms. Spirou said.

"We are truly, profoundly sorry; this is a very tragic event at the hospital," Ms. Spirou said. "We are doing everything we can to make sure these incidents are not repeated."

Health Minister Deb Matthews said Thursday that the ministry's review will be conducted along with the Windsor health authority.

As well, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario is investigating both physicians, spokeswoman Kathryn Clarke said.

Michael Baker, executive lead for patient safety at Ontario's health ministry, said starting on April 1, a 32-item surgical checklist will be mandatory in every operation in the province.

"I feel very confident, based on the data from the original study … this will dramatically reduce errors in the operating room," Dr. Baker said.

"And I believe it will reduce mortality and morbidity."