A number of Quebec breast-cancer patients have reached an out-of-court settlement with 12 hospitals after they waited more than three months for breast-cancer chemotherapy.
The hospitals reached the $5.4 million deal in May with a group of patients led by Anahit Cilinger, who had filed the suit back in 2004, Cilinger's law firm said in a news release on Monday.
The settlement cuts short a proceeding that began on May 6 in Quebec Superior Court, said the firm, Marchand Melancon Forget.
As many as 4,000 patients could be eligible for compensation, lawyer Michel Savonitto told ctvmontreal.ca.
"We're really satisfied because we started the class action eight years ago," he said in an interview.
"I think it's a good settlement for the class (action) members."
Lengthy wait alleged
Cilinger filed the suit on behalf of patients who waited more than three months for chemotherapy between October 1997 and March of this year.
The defendants include major English hospitals such as the Montreal General, The Jewish General and the Royal Victoria as well as French centres including Hopital Notre-Dame, Hotel-Dieu and Maisonneuve-Rosemont.
Under terms of the deal, the hospitals aren't admitting any negligence or liability.
Some of the women were forced to travel to Vermont, and even Europe, for treatment after they said they spent excessive time on Quebec waiting lists.
