A West Virginia woman had a laser cone biopsy by her gynecologist. The pathology report stated there was coagulation artifact in the specimen. The next year, the woman went to another gynecologist, who performed two pap smears, which were read as negative. Subsequently, the patient developed a pap smear suggestive of malignancy. Treatment at a major medical center included a hysterectomy. The woman eventually died of metastatic cancer of the cervix. Upon viewing the slides, a medQuest OB/GYN pathologist reported there was a negligent misinterpretation of the second pap smear, which was clearly suggestive of malignancy.