Full Breakdown
Georgia Woman’s Unnecessary Hysterectomy After Lab Misdiagnosis
8/5/2026, 9:06:49 PM
Misdiagnosis and Unnecessary Hysterectomy
Cassandra Barksdale, a 43-year-old Atlanta-area resident, sought care in January 2025 for abnormal uterine bleeding and fibroids. After an endometrial biopsy in March 2025, the sample was sent to Quest Diagnostics for pathology. On March 17, 2025, the lawsuit states she was told she had high-grade, aggressive endometrial cancer. A subsequent CT scan—according to the suit—showed no evidence of malignancy, yet a Northside Hospital Atlanta physician recommended a total hysterectomy, removal of ovaries, and lymph-node biopsies.
Timeline of Medical Events
- January 2025 – Barksdale visits a Kaiser Permanente clinic with bleeding concerns.
- March 2025 – Endometrial biopsy performed; sample sent to Quest Diagnostics.
- March 17, 2025 – Barksdale informed of aggressive cancer diagnosis (as alleged in the lawsuit).
- Following weeks – CT imaging performed; imaging reportedly shows no cancer.
- Later in 2025 – Total hysterectomy and related surgeries carried out.
- Post-surgery – Pathology review finds no cancer, leading to the filing of a lawsuit in Clayton County, Georgia.
Official Statements & Responses
Quest Diagnostics declined comment and is not named as a defendant.
Legal Action and Potential Wider Impact
Barksdale’s attorneys, including Roderick Edmond, are pursuing at least $10,000 in damages and a jury trial. Edmond warned that the mislabeling could affect other patients, noting, “We don’t know that somebody else’s tissue was mislabeled, but that’s a possibility.” The case highlights concerns about laboratory handling protocols and may prompt broader scrutiny of outsourced pathology services.
