US double mastectomy mistake

There was no sign of breast cancer in tissue samples

A US woman who underwent surgery to remove both breasts has been told she never had cancer.

Linda McDougal underwent a double mastectomy after she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in May 2002.

It didn't take more than 10 seconds before I was in tears, along with my husband

Linda McDougal

But she was later told by her surgeon at the United Hospital of St Paul, Minnesota, that she had been inaccurately diagnosed following a mix-up of test results.

Speaking on the television programme, Good Morning America, Ms McDougal said: "She said there was no other way than to just tell us that I didn't have cancer.

"My immediate reaction was great - you got it all.

"Then she said, 'No, you don't understand. You never had cancer.'

"I was shocked. It didn't take more than 10 seconds before I was in tears, along with my husband."

Suspicious spot

Ms McDougal, a mother of three, was diagnosed with cancer following a biopsy order by her doctor who was concerned about a suspicious spot that had appeared on her mammogram.

She was told that unless she underwent a double mastectomy followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy she would die.

But tests following surgery revealed that Ms McDougal's breasts were healthy.

It was then discovered that tissue from Ms McDougal's biopsy was switched with tissue from another woman.

The hospital has acknowledged the mistake, but laid the blame on an independent pathologist report.

Pathologists do contract work at United, but are not employees of the hospital.

Hospital officials say they have made changes to ensure a similar case will not happen in the future.

In a statement, the hospital said: "Clearly, there was a mistake, and full disclosure was made as soon as the independent pathology group realised the error.

"We want to make it clear, the surgeons and other healthcare providers acted on good faith on the pathology information.

"Since this incident, we have done an extensive review of our system at United, and the pathology group's system. Additional safeguards have been added to prevent errors like this from happening again."

Ms McDougal is considering legal action.

She has been unable to continue a course of reconstructive surgery because of infections.