Cassandra Barksdale Sues Kaiser Permanente Over Unneeded Hysterectomy at 43 After Biopsy Mix-Up
Updated
Updated · Ynetnews · Aug 10
Cassandra Barksdale Sues Kaiser Permanente Over Unneeded Hysterectomy at 43 After Biopsy Mix-Up
3 articles · Updated · Ynetnews · Aug 10
Summary
Barksdale says a March 2025 biopsy from another patient was wrongly attributed to her, leading Kaiser doctors to diagnose aggressive endometrial cancer and perform surgery on May 15.
The lawsuit says the operation removed her uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries, triggering premature surgical menopause, even though a CT scan and postoperative pathology found no evidence of cancer.
September 2025 DNA testing on the original biopsy allegedly confirmed the malignant tissue was not hers; the suit blames Kaiser entities and laboratory personnel for negligent specimen handling, though the outside lab is not accused.
Kaiser apologized, said immediate steps were taken to prevent a repeat, and said it aims to resolve the case fairly; Barksdale is seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages in Clayton County, Georgia.
The case highlights the stakes of specimen-identification failures, which have prompted safeguards such as barcoding but have still surfaced in other documented U.S. and overseas lawsuits.