Ontario doctor being sued over mastectomies wants hospital privileges back

WINDSOR, Ont. - A Windsor, Ont., doctor at the heart of a controversy over mistaken mastectomies wants her hospital privileges back.

Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital is going to hold a hearing to determine whether Dr. Barbara Heartwell will be reinstated as a surgeon.

A panel of seven hospital board members will hear from both Heartwell and the hospital's Medical Advisory Committee on Wednesday evening.

When reports surfaced of mastectomies being performed on two women who did not have breast cancer, Heartwell voluntarily withdrew from performing surgery.

Hospital board chair Egidio Sovran says Heartwell changed her mind Feb. 26 and the hospital then suspended her privileges.

Sovran expects a quick decision after the Wednesday board meeting.

The hospital, Heartwell and a pathologist are all named in a $2.2-million lawsuit filed by a Leamington, Ont., woman after her breast was removed last November even though she didn't have cancer.

None of the allegations in the lawsuit have been proven in court.