Woman Undergoes Unneeded Double Mastectomy

Oct. 3, 2007— -- NEW YORK (AP) - A Long Beach, Long Island woman got the bad newsthat she had breast cancer. She underwent a double mastectomy andthen was told the lab made a mistake and she didn't have cancer.

Darrie Eason is a 35-year-old single mother who is now suing.

Her attorney says Eason was the victim of a mix-up at the theCBLPath medical lab in Rye Brook. Eason has filed a lawsuitagainst CBLPath in State Supreme Court in Mineola last monthseeking an undisclosed sum of money.

A state report blames the mix-up on a technician who admittedcutting corners while labeling tissue specimens.

CBLPath chief executive William Curtis said he was familiarwith Eason's case but could not speak about any of his company'spatients because of federal privacy laws. He said the doctor whosigned off on Eason's diagnosis, no longer works for the company.

The technician responsible for the mix-up, also is no longerwith the company.

Attorney Steven Pegalis of Lake Success says people must be ableto trust a medical lab.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-10-03-07 0608EDT