News

Woman (59) sues HSE over alleged BreastCheck misdiagnosis

By February 20, 2020 No Comments

A woman who attended a mobile BreastCheck clinic for a mammogram when she had a concern about a lump on her breast has sued in the High Court claiming alleged misdiagnosis.

Mother of two Siobhan Freeney claims her mammogram taken in June 2015 was read incorrectly.

She was told in a letter from BreastCheck a few days later her mammogram was clear.

She alleges the mammogram should have been read as highly suspicious for cancer and she should have been referred for further assessment.

Six months later, Ms Freeney was diagnosed with cancer in her right breast.

She claims her cancer should have been diagnosed earlier when she had a mammogram in the mobile clinic when it came to her local town Gorey, Co Wexford.,

As a result of the alleged delay in her diagnosis. Ms Freeney claims the opportunity to detect the cancer at an early stage was missed, her counsel Jeremy Maher SC told the court.

Mr Maher SC said it is their case there was an alleged delay in the diagnosis of Ms Freeney’s breast cancer.       

Counsel said it was not diagnosed until December 2015.

It is their contention it ought to have been diagnosed six months earlier when Ms Freeney attended the mobile clinic.

At the mobile clinic, counsel said, Ms Freeney was not referred for further assessment as they contend she ought to have been.

If she had, he said it was their case a triple assessment including a clinical assessment mammogram and ultra sound would have taken place and identified the cancer.

Ms Freeney (59) of Clonattin, Gorey, has sued the HSE.

She has claimed there was a failure to failure to advise, treat and care for her in a proper skillful, diligent and careful manner.

There was an alleged failure to use reasonable care skill and judgment when reviewing her mammogram taken on June 17, 2015.

She has further claimed there was an a failure to identify that features in her mammogram of her right breast taken that June were suspicious of cancer.

All the claims are denied.

Had her cancer been detected in June 2015, her counsel said Ms Freeney would have required a mastectomy.

But he said the cancer would have been smaller and she would not have required radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

He said their case was the mammogram taken in the mobile clinic was incorrectly reported as indicating no evidence of cancer.

Experts for their side he said will say that if Ms Freeney had been referred on for further assessment the cancer would have been identified.

The opportunity to detect the cancer at an early stage was missed, Mr Maher said.

The case before Ms Justice Niamh Hyland continues.

Irish Independent