Woman launches $2.2 million lawsuit for “devastating” mastectomy

TORONTO – A Leamington, Ont., woman, who had an unnecessary mastectomy last fall, has launched a $2.2 million lawsuit against the surgeon who removed her breast, the pathologist who analyzed her biopsy and two Windsor-Essex hospitals.

Laurie Johnston, who never had breast cancer, is suing surgeon Dr. Barbara Heartwell, pathologist Dr. Olive Williams, Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital and Leamington District Memorial Hospital.

The lawsuit alleges Williams’s pathology report is confusing and contributed to Heartwell’s mistake.

The surgery was done at Hotel-Dieu in November by Heartwell, a surgeon with 28 years of experience.

Johnston’s biopsy was done at Leamington hospital and examined by Williams – who was suspended Jan. 4 because of errors in her work.

"Recently I learned that in addition to the pathology report that said I did not have cancer, there was another report in my record that said it was not cancer. Both of these reports were dated days before my surgery and I assume were sent to Dr. Heartwell," said Johnson, at a Toronto press conference.

"When I was told by Dr. Heartwell that I had cancer, it was very difficult for me, but I felt that I had come to terms with it, with my family’s support. To learn that my breast was removed unnecessarily is devastating for me and for them. Another patient has come forward to say that Dr. Heartwell did the same thing to her. It is shocking to me to know that what happened to me could have been prevented if only I had known."

Days after Johnston’s case became public, it was revealed that Heartwell had performed another unnecessary mastectomy in 2001 on Sarnia woman Janice Laporte, whose pathology results also showed she did not have breast cancer.

When Laporte came forward with her story, Heartwell voluntarily stopped operating at Hotel-Dieu until the hospital completes a review of her past cases.

The mastectomy errors forced Hotel-Dieu to reveal it had been reviewing Williams’s work.

The medical errors have prompted a separate investigation by the Ontario Ministry of Health, which appointed three top doctors this week to look into the situation in Windsor. Dr. Barry McLellan, the province’s former chief coroner, is leading the probe.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario is also investigating Heartwell and Williams.

Windsor law firm Sutts, Strosberg is preparing a class-action lawsuit over pathology errors made by Williams.