Health watchdog briefed on cancer misdiagnosis

THE State’s health service watchdog was briefed yesterday by the Health Service Executive on the latest breast cancer misdiagnosis controversy.

The Health Information and Quality Authority wrote to the HSE last week asking for a full briefing in relation to the case of Ann Moriarty, who died from metastatic breast cancer earlier this year.

The 53-year-old woman, who died last April, had twice been given the all clear following tests last year at Ennis General Hospital.

She was also declared to be free of any recurrence of her cancer during a regular check-up in St James’s Hospital in Dublin just over a year ago.

The authority asked for the briefing from the HSE after the woman’s husband, Karl Henry, went public on his wife’s death last week and called for an independent inquiry into her care.

Later today, Health Minister Mary Harney will meet Mr Henry, who had asked to see her last week.

Ms Harney said a decision to carry out a widescale review at Ennis Hospital would be made on the basis of expert advice.

Mr Henry, who lives in Ennis, County Clare, with his teenage son, said he could never be able to put his mind at rest because of the possibility that other people might have received a misdiagnosis.

Ms Harney said cancer reform was needed in the light of misdiagnosis instances such as that of Mr Henry’s wife.

A spokesperson for the authority said they would not be commenting on the case until it had considered the HSE briefing carefully.

The spokesperson also said there might be other people that the authority would want to interview.

Mr Henry said he would be happy to have the authority investigate the care his wife received.