Student erroneously told skin lesion malignant melanoma

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The plaintiff had a lesion removed from her clavicle following a routine skin check. The specimen was removed by defendant A and sent to defendant B for pathological analysis.

The specimen was reported back to the plaintiff as a malignant melanoma, with ulceration present, pathologic staging T2bNxMx. She was advised to have a timely excision and sentinel node examination.

Since the plaintiff was a foreign student, she underwent the surgical procedure at a hospital in Germany.

Several days after the surgery, defendant A notified the plaintiff that there was a mix-up and the labels on the bottles may have been swapped with another patient. It was confirmed by defendant A, defendant B, and the hospital in Germany that the biopsy was benign and negative for melanoma.

Action: Medical malpractice
Injuries alleged: Misdiagnosis, leading to unnecessary surgery
Case name: Withheld
Court/case no.: Withheld
Jury and/or judge: N/A (mediated)
Name of mediator: John Ryan
Amount: $425,000
Date: April 1, 2025
Attorney: Michael J. Harris of Crowe & Harris, Boston (for the plaintiff)