Dear Ann Landers,
dear friend of mine has had a hor-rible experience. Emily (not her real name) noticed a lump in her breast. She went to a physician and was told to check into the hospital for surgery that evening. The operation was 49 performed within forty-eight hours. When Emily awoke from the anesthetic she learned that her breast had been removed. She went into a deep depression (which I understand is not unusual), but she began to cheer up on the fourth day. On the fifth day, however, it leaked out that the biopsy report on the amputated breast was negative. This made the poor woman so furious that she just about tore the hospital apart. What can be done to prevent such catastrophes in the future? Don't suggest that Emily sue the doctor. Everyone knows the medical pro-fession is such a tightly knit little group that it's ridiculous to try to fight them.-California Yell For Help

Dear California,
Like most secondhand reports, your story contains serious flaws. No reputable physician removes a breast unless he first does a biopsy on the lump and finds a malignancy. This procedure is standard and virtually elimi-nates the possibility of removing a healthy breast. Further-more, all certified hospitals are required by the American Hospital Association and the American College of Surgeons to maintain an examining body called a tissue committee. This committee reviews reports describing all organs which have been removed. Years ago a surgeon could remove just about anything and not have to answer to anyone. Today if a doctor chalked up an unseemly number of unnecessary operations, he would be dropped from the hospital staff.