An Atlanta-area woman is suing Kaiser Permanente, alleging a labeling error resulted in her being misdiagnosed with cancer and undergoing an unneeded hysterectomy. Cassandra Barksdale and her attorneys filed the lawsuit Tuesday, detailing claims of physical and emotional distress stemming from the surgical procedure performed on May 15, 2025.
According to the lawsuit, Barksdale, then 43, was informed she had an aggressive form of endometrial uterine cancer based on a biopsy performed on March 10, 2025. The misdiagnosis was reportedly due to another patient’s tissue sample being mistakenly labeled as her own. Following the biopsy results shared on March 17, 2025, Barksdale lived for months believing she had cancer, a period her attorney described as deeply impacting her and her sons.
Barksdale sought treatment at Kaiser Permanente Southwood Medical Center in Jonesboro, Georgia, in early 2025 for heavy bleeding and fibroids, which are noncancerous growths. After receiving the initial diagnosis, she was told she would receive instructions for chemotherapy. Barksdale stated that she even began making funeral arrangements.
In September, a DNA analysis reportedly revealed that the tissue sample indicating cancer belonged to a different patient. "She came into Kaiser Permanente looking for answers, and she left with a diagnosis that did not belong to her. And every step that was taken after that was based off of misinformation," said attorney Shannan Young.
Kaiser Permanente representatives acknowledged the incident in a statement, saying, "Ms. Barksdale should not have experienced this." The statement added, "We have highly trained staff and very thorough processes in place to prevent errors like this from taking place. After this occurred last year, we took immediate steps to ensure it could not happen again. We realize the impact of this incident and are committed to working with Ms. Barksdale and her counsel to resolve this in the most fair and accountable way we can."
Details regarding the other patient involved, including her diagnosis and treatment, are not publicly available due to privacy laws. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, with Barksdale's attorney emphasizing that while money cannot restore lost organs or erase the experience, the justice system should hold the negligent party accountable.