Lawsuit: Lab Error Resulted in Needless Hysterectomy

A Georgia woman says a lab mix-up resulted in her receiving a bogus cancer diagnosis and undergoing a full hysterectomy. Cassandra Barksdale, 44, has sued Kaiser Permanente in Clayton County, alleging that another patient's tissue was mistakenly labeled as hers, reports NBC News. As a result, doctors thought she had an aggressive endometrial uterine cancer and removed her uterus, cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes in May, according to the lawsuit. Post-surgery testing reportedly found no cancer at all.

Barksdale says she and her sons lived for months thinking she had terminal cancer, notes the AP. "I even started making funeral plans with them to let them know, you know, if I don't make it out, this is what I want done," she said. The suit names Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, and Kaiser Permanente Insurance Co., as well as lab technicians. Kaiser Permanente called the case unacceptable, and pledged to resolve the matter "in the most fair and accountable way we can."