Rate of misdiagnosis significant, says author

THE cancer misdiagnosis rate at a Portlaoise hospital was a “very significant rate of misdiagnosis” according to the clinician who reviewed more than 3,000 mammograms originally read at the hospital.

Yesterday, consultant radiologist Dr Ann O’Doherty, who carried out the review, said she wished to clarify that a misdiagnosis rate of nine patients out of 3,000 was a “very high level of misdiagnosis” and not within the normal range.

Dr O’Doherty aired her clarification on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland to correct any impression given by health officials or in the media that the Portlaoise misdiagnosis rate was comparable with misdiagnosis rates in other care centres.