Cancer risk 'stretched' to woo MPs

By FRANCESCA MOLD and NZPA

GISBORNE - A top health official yesterday revealed that cervical cancer rates had been exaggerated to ensure political support for a national screening programme.

Questioned at the Gisborne inquiry into cervical screening, Ministry of Health chief adviser Dr Bob Boyd admitted that the definition of cervical cancer was "stretched out" for the sake of politicians and to build up the importance of a programme.

Inquiry panel member Professor Maire Duggan asked Dr Boyd why it was "postulated" at the start of the national screening programme that one in every 100 women would get cervical cancer.

She said the actual rate appeared to be about 10 per 100,000.

Dr Boyd did not know where the early statistic came from, although he believed it had been expanded to include even low-grade smear test abnormalities.

The figures might have been used to appeal to politicians and win their backing for a screening programme, he said.

Dr Boyd did not reveal who might have exaggerated the statistics.

Ministry lawyer Mary Shoultens said the early figure came from an article in a medical journal.

Dr Boyd's evidence about the exaggerated claims was suppressed on Wednesday because lawyers feared he would reveal information about some of the affected women who were not at the hearing.

But the suppression order was lifted yesterday.

During the hearing on Wednesday, Professor Duggan also asked Dr Boyd why words such as "eliminate" and "prevent" were used to promote the screening programme.

She said such programmes would help in early diagnosis of cervical cancer, but could not eliminate it completely.

Dr Boyd: "Yes, I believe the words used were probably used inadvisedly. Prevention is not a correct word but it is used and might be found in publications."

The objective should be a reduction in cervical cancer cases, "but you shouldn't offer the population the belief that the programme will eliminate cancer," he said.

Another panel member, Druis Barrett, questioned Dr Boyd about why some women at cervical screening meetings were told by health officials that if they had a smear test they would not get cancer.

"It certainly wouldn't have been the intention of the programme, and it shouldn't be allowed to happen," he said.

Dr Boyd is expected to give more evidence next week.