Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre president Dr. Barry McLellan will head a panel of three top doctors investigating botched mastectomies and disputed pathology reports at three Windsor-area hospitals.
On Monday, March 1, Health Minister Deb Matthews appointed McLellan to lead and co-ordinate the investigation into the quality of care and treatment of patients at Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital, Windsor Regional Hospital and Leamington District Memorial Hospital.McLellan is Ontario's former chief coroner.Dr. Robin McLeod will focus on surgical errors while Dr. John Srigley will focus on pathology reports. Both work for Cancer Care Ontario.Last week, it was learned two women, patients of Dr. Barbara Heartwell, had unnecessary mastectomies at Hotel-Dieu hospital in 2001 and 2009 even though they did not have cancer.Also last week, the province ordered a review of 15,000 pathology tests after Hotel-Dieu revealed it had suspended pathologist Dr. Olive Williams, who has links to the other two hospitals, due to errors.Hotel-Dieu also said it is investigating other cases of concern. Working with the hospital, community, key stakeholders and the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), McLellan's investigative team will review reports of unnecessary surgeries, errors in pathology reports, monitoring of patient care, staff conduct and the role of the hospitals' medical advisory committees."It is incumbent upon all of us who are involved in the health system to learn from this situation," Matthews said in a statement."This review is just one part of our ongoing goal to ensure patient safety for all Ontarians."The team will provide regular updates to the ministry and the LHIN, but Matthews did not say when it is expected to hand her its final report.