Misdiagnosis Results in Unnecessary Double Mastectomy
Thursday, October 04, 2007
A single mother given a devastating diagnosis undergoes a radical surgery. But after the surgery, more bad news -- she finds out she was completely misdiagnosed.One woman is suing a New York lab after she claims it gave her erroneous test results. Doctors removed her breasts even though it turns out she never had breast cancer to begin with.
They are the words no woman wants to hear after having a mammogram:
"I got a call saying there was cancer in the biopsy," said Darrie Eason.
A single mom, 35-year-old Eason decided to undergo the drastic lifesaving measure of a double mastectomy. After the operation, she learned the lab made a mistake.
"They told me you didn't have cancer, and you never did," said Eason. "I have a philosophy that you have to laugh to keep from crying, so I try to laugh as much as I can."
Eason became victim to a preventable medical mistake. Studies show between 40,000 and 100,000 Americans die every year from improper medications to errors on the operating table.
"That would be the equivalent to a large jet crashing everyday in the U.S.," said Dr. Robert Wachter.
A state report blames Eason's mix-up on a former technician who admitted to cutting corners. But in a statement, CBL Path Medical Lab says the New York State Department of Health found no systemic problems and no deficiencies were cited against the lab.
Appearing on "Good Morning America," Darrie Eason and her lawyer say if that's the case, they want to find out what went wrong.
"They reported a malignancy where there was none, and then in another patient they reported that there was no malignancy where there was. That we know," Eason's lawyer, told Diane Sawyer.
When asked what we can all learn from this, Eason gives this advice:
"Maybe it's that second opinions are good," said Eason. "But second biopsies are better."
Posted in Medical Malpractice