Woman, 31, adds name to euthanasia list after ‘grim' cancer diagnosis – then she receives ‘haunting' realisation
A WOMAN who was told she had advanced-stage breast cancer and only months to live received shocking news just days later.
Gabriella Patey, 31, received the "grim diagnosis" that had also claimed her mum's life, and began telling family and friends, as well as making end-of-life preparations.
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Living in Canada, Gabriella put a claim through her bank for critical illness insurance and put her name on the list for medically assisted dying.
She told Global News: "I just came to terms with it. This is what it was, just absolutely devastating."
But just says later, her family doctor called with some unbelievable news.
She recalled: "I got another call from my primary care physician stating, actually, there had been a critical patient error at the IWK (Health Centre).
"And the file with the grim diagnosis did not even belong to me.
"I didn't even really believe her. I mean why should I? They had made this mistake once, how could they make it again?"
Gabriella first discovered a lump on her breast in October 2023, not long after her mum had died of the disease.
Over the course of a year, she had multiple ultrasounds at the Breast Health Clinic at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
In May 17, following a biopsy, Gabriella received the "great news" there were no traces of breast cancer.
But two and a half weeks later, her family doctor called to say there must have been mistake as she did actually have cancer.
I planned my suicide after my GP misdiagnosed me - turns out I wasn't depressed
The news came just five days after she'd finished successful treatment for thyroid cancer.
Two days later, however, her family doctor confirmed it was actually an error - she didn't have cancer.
Gabriella's doctor went to the IWK to check her lab report.
She said: "A director in the pathology department spoke to my primary care physician directly...and verbally admitted that it was a critical patient error."
While Gabriella has received an apology from IWK, she's been left doubting Nova Scotia's health-care system and is pursuing legal action.
She said she and her family have been left haunted by what's happened.
'It's absolutely devastating to get a diagnosis like that. I had to look my husband in the face and tell him,' she said.
'(We have) all these plans for our future and (I had to) say, 'I may not be here to live out those plans with you.' I mean we're crying ourselves to sleep every night.'
In a statement to Global News, a spokesperson from IWK Health said "concerns of this nature are taken seriously."
Spokesperson Andrea Slaney wrote: "Due to patient privacy, IWK Health is unable to comment on specific cases.
"However, concerns of this nature are taken seriously and a formal investigation process is followed with engagement from IWK's Quality, Patient Safety and Patient Experience team."
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