Alberta Health Services (AHS) is warning women to be aware of “misleading telephone calls” from a man who reportedly asks women to conduct breast exams while on the phone.
AHS said eight woman in the Edmonton, Barrhead and Athabasca areas have come forward to say they received a phone call from a man who claims to be from a medical imaging facility.
The caller reportedly relays breast screening exam follow-up information and tells the women a breast self-exam must be conducted while on the phone.
AHS said while it may phone patients to discuss a mammography appointment, it will never ask a patient to conduct a self-exam over the phone.
Anyone who receives a phone call like this is asked to immediately hang up and take down information regarding the call, like the time it was made and the phone number, if available. They are then asked to phone their local police department’s non-emergency complaint line. Complaints can also be filed with AHS’ Screening Program Client Support Line at 1-866-727-3926.