US woman says she had hysterectomy after she got someone else’s cancer diagnosis

A woman from Atlanta, Georgia, named Cassandra Barksdale, is suing Kaiser Permanente for alleging that she was diagnosed with cancer and underwent an unnecessary hysterectomy due to a labelling error. In her lawsuit, filed recently, Barksdale claims that another patient's tissue sample was mistakenly labeled as hers. As a result, she underwent a full hysterectomy on May 15, 2025, and was led to believe she would receive chemotherapy instructions.

However, recent DNA analysis revealed the tissue sample belonged to someone else, not Barksdale. Her lawyer, Shannan Young, stated that Barksdale was given a diagnosis that did not apply to her, and every subsequent step taken was based on misinformation. Barksdale initially went to Kaiser Permanente Southwood Medical Centre in Jonesboro, Georgia, seeking treatment for heavy bleeding and fibroids.

She had a biopsy performed on March 10, 2025, and learned of the incorrect diagnosis three days later. Barksdale endured months of depression, even creating funeral plans for herself and her sons. Kaiser Permanente's representatives acknowledged that Barksdale should not have experienced this situation. They stated that they have stringent processes in place to prevent such errors from occurring, and they are actively working to ensure it does not happen again.

Although privacy laws prevent them from sharing information about the other patient, a similar lawsuit filed by an Ohio woman in 2019 reported a misdiagnosis due to a biopsy error. Researchers found three instances of biopsy sample misidentification over two years according to a 2011 research paper. Labs employ various strategies to minimize errors, such as bar code systems for specimen labeling and point-of-care testing.

Barksdale's lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, emphasizing that no amount of money can restore her healthy organs or erase the emotional pain she has endured. Her lawyer highlighted the importance of accountability in situations where negligence has caused harm to another individual.