A hospital in Ireland has apologized to a woman who received an incorrect BRCA gene test finding and subsequently developed ovarian cancer, the Irish Times reports.
Martina Murphy sought BRCA testing about nine years ago due to her increased family history of breast cancer and was referred to Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, and the former National Centre for Medical Genetic Testing, the Irish Times says. It notes that, based on the results, she was considering a hysterectomy. Murphy's oncologist received a letter, though, that said no alterations were found in her BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.
But as the Irish Times says, when Murphy developed ovarian cancer a few years later, her doctors sought her genetic testing report which then showed that the letter saying she had no BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation was incorrect.
The hospital has now apologized to Murphy in High Court, it adds. "The Hospital wishes to unreservedly apologize to you and your family for the profound upset, distress, and injury caused to you as a result of this reporting error," it said in a letter, according to the Irish Times.