A shocking medical error has sidelined a collegiate athlete and sparked a major lawsuit. Chloe Downing, a sophomore on the Cedarville University women's basketball team, alleges a surgeon operated on the wrong knee during a scheduled procedure last year, derailing her season and requiring a grueling recovery.

According to legal documents filed last week, Downing went to the Hand and Orthopedic Center at Kettering Health Washington Township in April 2025 for a planned arthroscopy on her right knee. The lawsuit claims that Dr. Atiba Jackson instead performed the surgery on her healthy left knee.

Even more troubling, the suit alleges that after being informed of the mistake, Dr. Jackson proceeded to operate on the correct right knee, reportedly stating the left knee "was going to need the procedure soon anyway." The filing further contends that Downing's medical records were later altered to suggest a planned bilateral surgery that was never discussed.

For an athlete, this kind of error is devastating. The ordeal forced Downing into more than a year of intensive rehabilitation and training just to return to the court, a significant setback in the crucial development years of her college career.

The lawsuit names Dr. Jackson, the Hand and Orthopedic Center, and Orthopedic Associates of SW Ohio, accusing them of negligence, fraudulent misrepresentation, and infliction of emotional distress. It seeks at least $50,000 in compensatory and punitive damages, along with attorney fees.

This case highlights the profound trust athletes place in medical professionals and the severe consequences when that trust is broken. As Downing fights her legal battle, her story serves as a stark reminder of the challenges athletes can face off the court.