John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure if the Minister is aware there is a high risk of sepsis from the biopsies that take place. I am somewhat taken aback that we have not up to now issued any statement on a comprehensive study undertaken by a hospital that is recognised across Europe as being to the forefront of dealing with prostate cancer. There are 141 male Deputies and based on statistics, 17 or 18 of us can expect to be told we have prostate cancer at some time in our lives. If the University of London report holds true, and outdated and inaccurate diagnosis techniques are responsible for many errors, surely we should deal with this immediately. I appeal to the Minister to look at this study by a renowned oncologist in that university, which categorically states that almost half of the diagnosis of cancer based on PSA scanning biopsies etc. have now proved inaccurate. I am not a medical man - maybe what they are suggesting is inaccurate but I do not believe it is. We cannot wait too long given that every day of the week a man in Ireland is diagnosed with prostate cancer.

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