At the age of 48, Vicky Phelan, an Irish cervical cancer activist who uncovered the CervicalCheck screening scam, passed away. The Irish Times reports that Phelan passed away early on Monday, November 14, with her family at her side at Milford Hospice in County Limerick.
In a statement made public by the source, Vicky’s husband Jim, and their daughters Amelia and Darragh paid tribute to the deceased. They also said that she left a void that “at this time seems difficult to replace.”
One of the biggest medical frauds in history was uncovered by Vicky Phelan.
In 2011, Vicky Phelan underwent a cervical cancer screening test; the results were unremarkable. She was identified as having cervical cancer in 2014, and subsequent CervicalCheck tests showed that the first report contained errors.
She learned about it in 2017, but before then. Vicky Phelan got a €2.5 million settlement after suing the US laboratory Clinical Pathology Laboratories after finding that her condition was terminal.
A panel of independent investigators headed by Dr. Gabriel Scally, a public health expert, was established when the disclosure became known to the public. She found that over 200 women had received misleading reports at the time, and that incorrect smear test results had been kept from them for years.
The 221+ CervicalCheck Patient Support Group was established by Vicky Phelan to aid those who had fallen victim to the aforementioned fraud.
Several people remembered Vicky’s contributions to society and paid their respects to her. In a statement, Irish President Michael D. Higgins complimented her “strong inner fortitude and decency” in advocating for the rights and welfare of the public.
For her campaigning, she was named one of the BBC’s 100 Women in 2018. In February 2022, the Irish healthcare activist will receive the Freedom of Limerick. In addition, Vicky Phelan published a book titled Overcoming that details both her struggle with the illness and her battle against one of the biggest medical scandals. The memoir won Post Book of the Year in 2019.
Also Read: A Look At The Success And Relationships Of Joan- Baez
