The doctor at the centre of a probe into cancer-test errors has declined to talk publicly about what may have gone wrong in his lab.
"I'm not ready to comment just yet," Dr. Robert Stark told the Free Press.
The 40-year-veteran pathologist and University of Manitoba professor has been on leave from his full-time job in anatomical pathology at St. Boniface Hospital since the end of March, after an initial review turned up errors in 20 percent of 35 of his recent cases. Stark handled routine surgical specimens for St. Boniface, as well as five other city hospitals and an unknown number of doctor's clinics.
Health officials are now reviewing 700 of Stark's diagnoses, including 350 complex cancer tests.
So far, an interim report has identified at least three prostate cancer patients who are in need of more radiation therapy. Another 14 suspect cases are still under review.
The identity of the doctor had not been released by health officials but a Free Press reporter visited Stark at his two-storey lakeside home in Windsor Park.
Stark graduated from medical school in 1957 in Glasgow, Scotland, and trained in general and anatomic pathology in the United Kingdom. He registered with the College and Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba in 1968, and is currently an associate professor of pathology with the University of Manitoba, where he teaches pathology residents, medical students and medical laboratory technology students.
Stark said he's spoken with a few of his colleagues about the review, but none of his peers was willing to speak to media about the impact of the recent investigation into Stark's cases.
Pathology experts said earlier this week that staff shortages have forced some pathologists to juggle heavy workloads and complicated cases far past normal retirement age.
Of the 45 pathologists who are working in Manitoba, at least six graduated from medical school in the 1960s. Half of those, including Stark, had their initial medical education as far back as the mid- to late-1950s.
Another senior pathologist who spoke to the Free Press earlier this week said he's working more than a year past his retirement since the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority can't find anyone with enough training to replace him.
Dr. Brock Wright, vice-president and chief medical officer of the WRHA, said they decided to review cases dating as far back as March 2007, since they "have to start somewhere."
He told media on Wednesday that health officials may look further into the pathologist's history should they uncover a lot of errors.
Marnie Ackman, a 53-year-old breast cancer patient, was shocked Thursday when she learned that Stark was the pathologist behind the recent investigation. He was the pathologist who reviewed Ackman's initial breast biopsy and determined she needed a mastectomy.
Ackman has since had chemotherapy and radiation treatment. She said every cancer patient hopes her team of oncologists, pathologists and physicians is giving the best advice.
"(Cancer) is a very scary thing to go through, and to think you're OK (only) to find out you need more treatment...," Ackman said.
Days before Stark was put on leave, Diagnostic Services Manitoba officials told the Free Press botched diagnostic tests were unlikely in Manitoba and the province had extensive reviews in place to investigate any suspicious tests.
Last week, a hospital in Owen Sound, Ont., announced it had a high rate of error in about 600 tests performed by one pathologist.
A similar diagnostic review of 24,000 cases is also underway in New Brunswick, and a highly-publicized review in Newfoundland found more than 300 people received incorrect breast cancer results between 1997 and 2005.
Any Manitoba patient who is concerned about their diagnostic tests should contact 788-8004.
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