ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Members of a class-action lawsuit settlement in Newfoundland and Labrador's botched breast cancer testing scandal will seek to have the deal approved in court next month.
In October, the province's largest health board and the law firm spearheading the lawsuit announced they had reached a $17.5-million settlement.
Today, the firm issued a statement saying the 349 class-action members will seek approval of the settlement in the province's Supreme Court on Feb. 2.
The lawsuit was launched in 2006 after mistakes were detected on hormone receptor tests, which play an important role in determining the most appropriate course of treatment for breast cancer.
A public inquiry last year found glaring problems within Newfoundland's health-care system led to the errors, from the St. John's laboratory that processed the tests up to the provincial government.
At least 425 patients had their tests botched from 1997 to 2005 - 127 of whom were dead as of last July - but it may never be known how many of them died as a result of missing out on potentially life-saving treatment.
