HSE to launch inquiry into misdiagnosis of cancer case

The HSE has been instructed to initiate an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the misdiagnosis of a woman with breast cancer.

Minsiter for Health Mary Harney made the request having considered the findings of an HSE report which concluded that human error was the reason why the Tipperary woman was mistakenly given the all-clear after a test for breast cancer.

The misdiagnosis happened in March 2005 after the woman's tissue sample was sent from the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick to Cork University Hospital.

The Minister has apologised to Rebecca O'Malley and her family for the considerable distress and trauma caused to the 41-year-old woman.

In a statement released last night, the Minister said that issues relating to the wider management of Ms O'Malley's care warrant such a probe independent of the two hospitals involved.