Malpractice Suit Filed Against Physicians Who Removed Woman's Breasts on Mistaken Biopsy

By Daniel Hawn

Published on August 02, 2005

In the lawsuit filed earlier this year, Stacie A. Hintz is seeking an unspecified amount of damages. The defendants, three pathologists -- Christene Ann Timmons, William F. Kinn Jr. and Karen Dian Anthony, and one surgeon -- Ingrid Sharon, all deny any wrongdoing.

According to court documents, Hintz received a biopsy of her right breast in April 2004. Upon examination of a tissue sample, Timmons diagnosed Hintz with DCIS. The suit alleges that Kinn and Anthony contributed negligence by not examining the tissue themselves or by misdiagnosing it as well. Based on the diagnosis, Sharon performed a bilateral mastectomy, removing both of Hintz's breasts.

After the operation, Timmons examined tissue taken from Hintz during surgery and found it to be benign. According to the lawsuit, Timmons changed her original diagnosis of Hintz's condition but failed to inform her.

The lawsuit states that even if the pathologists' original diagnosis had been correct, removal of both of Hintz's breast would comprise malpractice. Hintz's counsel states that the proper course of action would have been for Sharon to confirm the diagnosis and then to remove either one breast or a portion of the infected breast and implement radiation therapy.

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