Eastern Health and members of the Breast Cancer Testing Class Action committee jointly announced the conclusion of negotiations toward a settlement arising out of errors in ER/PR testing between 1997 and 2005 Friday.

The monetary value of the settlement is approximately $17.5 million.

Eastern Health president and CEO Vickie Kaminski suggested no amount of money could adequately compensate the people who have experienced these kinds of error in their medical treatment.

“This settlement is meant to demonstrate Eastern Health’s sincere apology to the Class members and their families and to provide some recognition of their ongoing struggles.”

Class representative Verna Doucette drove from her home on the Port aux Port Peninsula to attend the mediation in St. John’s, but fell ill with H1N1 influenza on the first day. The committee of Class members carried on three days of negotiations on her behalf.

The mediator was George Adams, Q.C., a former Ontario Superior Court judge.

Committee member Rosalind Jardine indicated members of the Class Action wanted a financial settlement demonstrating sincerity and respect.

“This settlement does that.”

Non-monetary elements of the deal include membership on an oversight committee, a suitable memorial, and a consultant to report in 2012 on progress in implementing the Cameron recommendations.