Georgia woman sues after wrong cancer diagnosis leads to hysterectomy

Cassandra Barksdale, 43, of Atlanta, filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Kaiser Permanente, alleging a tissue labeling error led to a wrongful cancer diagnosis and an unnecessary hysterectomy. She underwent the surgery on May 15, 2025, after another patient's sample was mistakenly labeled as hers. In September, DNA analysis revealed the cancer was not hers. Barksdale's attorney says the misdiagnosis caused months of physical and emotional pain. Kaiser Permanente acknowledged the error and said it has taken steps to prevent recurrence.