Terms of Reference Established for Inquiry on Estrogen Progesterone Testing for Breast Cancer Patients

Executive Council
July 4, 2007
Terms of Reference Established for Inquiry
on Estrogen Progesterone Testing for Breast Cancer Patients

The Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced that the Terms of Reference have been established for the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Estrogen and Progesterone Hormone Receptor Testing for Breast Cancer Patients, under Part 1 of the Public Inquiries Act, 2006.

"It is vital that patients, families and the public understand what happened with respect to hormone receptor testing for breast cancer patients," said Premier Williams. "The terms of reference for this inquiry set out the critical questions that the inquiry will attempt to answer to ensure that this situation does not happen again. I am confident that Justice Cameron, the commissioner for the inquiry, will ensure accountability and transparency throughout the process and that the conclusion of this inquiry will help to restore public confidence in our health care system."

The inquiry will not express any conclusion or recommendation regarding civil or criminal responsibility for any person or organization.

Premier Williams announced on June 14, 2007 the appointment of Justice Margaret A. Cameron as commissioner of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on estrogen and progesterone receptor testing for breast cancer patients. Justice Cameron officially began her work as commissioner on July 3, 2007 and will deliver her final report to the Minister of Health and Community Services on July 30, 2008.

Justice Cameron will provide further details to the public regarding process and timelines next week.

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Media contact:
Elizabeth Matthews
Director of Communications
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960, 351-1227
elizabethmatthews@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Terms of Reference for Commission of Inquiry on Hormone Receptor Testing

The Commission of Inquiry shall:

Inquire into why the estrogen and progesterone hormone receptor tests done between 1997 and 2005 in the Newfoundland and Labrador health system resulted in a high rate of conversions when re-tested;

Inquire into why the problem with the estrogen and progesterone hormone receptor tests was not detected until 2005, whether it could have been detected at an earlier date, and whether testing protocols during that period between 1997 and 2005 were reasonable and appropriate;

Inquire into whether, once detected, the responsible authorities responded and communicated in an appropriate and timely manner to those women and men who needed re-tests and those who were being tested for the first time;

Inquire into whether, once detected, the responsible authorities communicated in an appropriate and timely manner with the general public and internally within the health system about the issues and circumstances surrounding the change in test results and the new testing procedures;

Advise whether the estrogen and progesterone hormone receptor testing systems and processes and quality assurance systems currently in place are reflective of "best practice"; and

Make the recommendations that the commission of inquiry considers necessary and advisable relating directly to the matters of public concern referred to in paragraphs (a) to (e).

The commission of inquiry shall not express any conclusion or recommendation regarding the civil or criminal responsibility of any person or organization.

The commission of inquiry shall terminate its work and deliver the final report to the Minister of Health and Community Services, who shall be the minister responsible for the commission of inquiry, on or before July 30, 2008.

2007 07 04 10:00 a.m.

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