Calgary Broadcaster's Medical Mix-Up Serves as Cautionary Tale
In a startling medical oversight that underscores the importance of patient vigilance, Calgary radio personality Sarah Crosbie recently discovered she had been sent someone else's mammogram results. The 48-year-old Corus Radio broadcaster only realized the error when her test report mentioned breast implants she has never had.
The Panic and Relief of Routine Screening
Crosbie, who hosts Connect with Sarah Crosbie on QR Calgary, underwent what she describes as the physically uncomfortable but necessary "panini press" procedure at her doctor's recommendation. Like many women, she experienced the emotional stress of waiting for results that could potentially change her life.
"When you're getting it done — in my brain, at least — I think, 'Is this the moment life changes?'" Crosbie shared about the screening process that millions of Canadian women undergo annually.
From Celebration to Confusion
The initial relief came quickly when Crosbie received a message during her afternoon show indicating normal results. "I am instantly dancing in my brain, I'm feeling fantastic," she recalled. However, her celebration was short-lived.
The very next sentence in her doctor's note contained the puzzling statement: "I do note breast augmentation implants were noted on your exam. Was this a recent operative procedure? I will update your profile."
"Immediately I thought, 'Well, this is quirky. Something has gone wrong here. But how funny, how odd. I have had a breast implant procedure and I didn't even know it,'" Crosbie recounted with the characteristic humor that has made her a popular voice in Calgary's media landscape.
Investigating the Error
What began as an amusing anomaly soon turned concerning as Crosbie contemplated the implications during her drive home. Accessing her MyHealth Alberta account, she discovered multiple discrepancies in the report, including dates and ultrasound records that didn't match her medical history.
"There were dates in this that are not my dates, ultrasounds that have been done in other months back in 2024 that weren't mine," she explained, recognizing she had received another patient's complete medical information.
The Emotional Toll of Medical Uncertainty
Crosbie immediately contacted her physician, who agreed the situation required urgent investigation. What followed was a week of emotional turbulence as she awaited her actual results.
"I would be lying if I said I just spent the week thinking how comical it was that I have breast implants I didn't know about," Crosbie admitted. "I floated in and out of being completely fine and thinking what a great story this is, and a warning tale for my listeners, to also feeling incredibly worried and having these little dark moments of 'OK, so what if there is something wrong?'"
A Positive Outcome and Important Lessons
Fortunately, when Crosbie's correct results finally arrived a week later, they showed normal findings. The experience, while stressful, provided valuable insights she has since shared with her audience.
This incident highlights several critical aspects of healthcare:
- The importance of patients carefully reviewing their medical documents
- The potential for administrative errors in healthcare systems
- The emotional impact of medical uncertainty on patients
- The value of digital health records for patient verification
Crosbie's experience serves as a reminder for all Canadians to remain engaged participants in their healthcare journeys, verifying information and speaking up when something doesn't seem right. Her willingness to share this personal story transforms a private medical mishap into a public service announcement about patient advocacy and healthcare system vigilance.
