False Cancer Diagnosis Leads to Hysterectomy Lawsuit

A metro Atlanta mother is suing Kaiser Permanente, alleging a critical tissue specimen mix-up led to a false cancer diagnosis and an unnecessary hysterectomy. Cassandra Barksdale filed a negligence lawsuit on Tuesday morning in Clayton County, detailing the profound physical and emotional toll the alleged misdiagnosis has taken over the past year.

Barksdale sought treatment at Kaiser Permanente's Southwood campus in March 2025 for heavy bleeding and fibroids. Following a biopsy, she was reportedly diagnosed with aggressive endometrial uterine cancer. The lawsuit contends that another patient's tissue specimen was mistakenly attributed to Barksdale and tested under her name.

Consequently, Barksdale underwent a total hysterectomy in May 2025, involving the removal of her uterus, cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and lymph nodes. Subsequent testing on the removed surgical tissue allegedly found no cancer. Months later, Barksdale reportedly received a revised pathology report stating the original specimen belonged to a different patient.

Her legal team states that Kaiser Permanente later informed Barksdale that DNA testing confirmed the specimen belonged to another individual. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and a jury trial, with attorneys emphasizing Barksdale’s desire for accountability after the traumatic experience.