This article is from page 3 of the 2008-10-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
THE husband of a woman who died from breast cancer after being given the all clear at Ennis General Hospital has appealed for people to speak to the HIQA investigation, as the number of misdiagnosis claims reaches six.
Karl Henry said that those con- cerned about cancer examinations and misdiagnosis at the Clare hosp1- tal should avail of the investigation by the state’s health service watchdog into the quality and safety of patient care at the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Ennis.
Mr Henry made the appeal as more cases of misdiagnosis come to light. The latest case is a woman from north Clare who died in June last year.
The 50-year-old mother of two had two scans at Ennis General Hospital.
Last month Mr Henry highlighted the case of his late wife Ann Mor1- arty who died despite repeatedly be- ing told she was not ul.
Despite claims that this was an 1so- lated case, the case of 26-year-old Edel Kelly from Kilrush emerged days later. The young mother of two also died despite been given the all clear following a biopsy.
A third case of an unidentified woman emerged last month, while last week the fourth case involv- ing the late Eva Corry (66) came to light.
Mr Henry said that he is also aware of a Kilkee woman who lost her life in 2001, months after she was given the all clear.
‘There were tears running down her husband’s face as he told me. Seven years later, he is still distraught. It would go a long way with him com- ing to terms with his loss if he knew why his wife died.”
Mr Henry said there is a perception that the investigation is only looking into female cancers and breast can- Coe
Referring to mistakes made with his late wife’s blood tests, he said this was not true, as blood tests can be taken for many cancers.
‘This leaves the investigation open to all sorts of cancers,’ he added.
Meanwhile, a Clare man who was wrongly given the all-clear for breast cancer at Galway’s University Col- lege Hospital a number of years ago has now been told he will require surgery.
Following a review of tests carried out at the hospital the man, who does not wished to be identified, received a letter from the hospital explaining
the mistake.
Although rare, breast cancer also affects men. The man in question will now undergo a bilateral mastec- reyeene
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