Why did Interior Health wait almost two years before reviewing breast cancer testing conducted at Okanagan Health Services Area Labs? That is the question being raised, after Astral Media Radio obtained another series of leaked documents - this time, written from within the Interior Health organization.
Although Interior Health officials say they were only alerted to concerns about breast cancer testing at Okanagan Health Service Area labs in December of 2008, emails show the discussion began almost 2 years ago, in May of 2007. In an email, former Director of OHSA labs, Dr. Kirk Ready asked for the opinion of fellow IHA pathologists on review of all breast cancer testing.
In a response to that email, the current Clinical Director, Dr. Doug Hardy wrote, he felt "a full review with recutting, restaining and rereading of all the cases [was] not warranted." Doctor Hardy goes on to suggest an "in house" review of the specimens. Doctor Hardy is the pathologist carrying out the current review, which is being conducted in the same laboratory Dr. Ready raised concerns about in his initial letter.
Despite Dr. Ready raising these concerns almost two years ago, it appears Interior Health did not facilitate a review of the breast cancer specimens. In a letter to IHA CEO Murray Ramsden, written December 2008Dr. Ready writes, "I raised this matter to the OHSA Lab Administrative Director during my time as Clinical Director...Dr. Terry Bainbridge offered to review the cases once the slides were pulled. However, no resources were allocated to undertake a search in Meditech or to pull the slides."
On Monday, BC Opposition Leader Carole James called for a full public review of the breast cancer testing conducted at Interior Health. This, after a letter written by Dr. Ready was released to the media, in which concerns were raised about breast cancer tests conducted in an 18 month period between May 2005 and October 2006.
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