Cancer inquiry report's release set for Tuesday

The report of Newfoundland and Labrador's breast cancer inquiry will be released Tuesday, a day later than originally planned due to an electronic error.

The provincial government said Monday that Justice Margaret Cameron's final report, a digital copy of which was not delivered until almost midnight on Sunday, will be released Tuesday afternoon.

Cameron had been expecting to finish her much-awaited report, which examineshow almost 400 breast cancer patients received the wrong results of important lab tests, on Saturday.

However, the commission found that final edits in the three-volume document were not being saved, which pushed back the completion of the report. The government had said last week it would release the report on Monday.

Meanwhile, an advocate who has spoken for breast cancer patients involved with a searing commission of inquiry into laboratory mistakes says they should not have to wait any longer than necessary for the final report.

Peter Dawe, executive director of the Canadian Cancer Society, said the government ought to have gone ahead with its plan to release the report publicly on Monday.

"I think it's somewhat disappointing that they don't continue with the original plan," Dawe told CBC News on Sunday.

"You know, it was a public inquiry and the public are very interested in what Judge Cameron has to say. My initial reaction is, gee whiz, why not just follow through with the original plan?"

Cameron's report into how hundreds of patients received erroneous results in their hormone receptor tests possibly depriving them of life-saving treatment is the culmination of months of testimony from several dozen witnesses.

In a statement late Sunday, the commission said that Cameron has apologized to Health Minister Ross Wiseman "for any inconvenience caused by this delay."

The commission said the decision of when to release the report rests with the government. It added, though, that "production of the report in paper format is currently ongoing, and expected to be concluded by Friday, March 6, 2009."

Dawe said the public will want to know why Health Minister Ross Wiseman needs extra time to read the report, before the public gets its chance.

"That's the fine line they're walking. It raises questions as to why do they need to keep the report to themselves before it's released publicly," he said.

Norman White, the only male breast cancer patient to testify at the inquiry, is hopeful that Cameron's report will determine what went wrong, and to ensure mistakes are not made again.

"The public should be the first ones to get this report or at least along with government," White told CBC News Sunday.

"I don't think this should be delayed at anytime so that government can analyze this ... No doubt this is frustrating."

Cameron heard testimony between March and late October on what went wrong at a St. John's pathology lab, and about how officials responded to mistakes. Among other things, she heard about poor handling of samples, dismal quality control, inadequate training and supervision and several warnings that went largely unheeded.