Meet the California Families

Theresa’s doctor told her not to worry about the tumors found in her brain, that they would not grow. By a check-up six months later, they had spread throughout her body.

Robert loses his hands and feet after doctors dismiss his concerns about contracting MRSA from his son.

Errors by a surgeon with a concealed history of alcohol abuse leave Tina permanently scarred with a pernicious infection.

Tom’s simple toe fracture turns into a serious medical issue after an unnecessary experimental surgery.

Elizabeth dies by suicide after being denied intensive mental healthcare by her HMO.

Little Malyia waited in the ER lobby for hours with a rapidly spreading infection, resulting in the amputation of her legs and parts of her hands.

A medical device is left in Shelly’s abdomen during a routine hysterectomy. She becomes paralyzed and the resulting medical costs force her family into bankruptcy.

An error during an endoscopy caused entrepreneur and research scientist Shilpa to aspirate while under anesthesia, leading to lung failure and a 12-day coma.

While recovering from surgery, the non-regulation placement of a feeding tube leads to Mike’s death.

Little Nora dies of infection after a series of medical errors: a 9 hour wait with no evaluation, inadequate equipment sterilization and a failure to maintain IV fluids.

A marathoner, Mario loses parts of all four limbs after his spesis infection is negligently misdiagnosed.

A botched cosmetic procedure traumatizes Cynthia, leaving her with infection and dangerous scarring.

Jennifer, a mother of thirteen, dies at the hands of a surgeon with a buried criminal record.

Father seeks justice for his children, Troy and Alana, after reckless opioid overprescribing at Kaiser leads to their deaths.

Angelica’s IV was inserted incorrectly, causing a fatal infection. Now her husband is fighting for injured patients across California.

Young musician, Anthony went into open heart surgery. After incorrectly placing a valve, doctors refuse to perform corrective surgery, resulting in the young man’s death.

The failure to administer a life-saving antibiotic meant the death of 7-year-old Jessie.

Instead of emergency medication for a pulmonary embolism, S. was given a cardiac stress test that led to his death.

Infant Naya dies on life support after post-birth protocol is neglected and medical providers downplay her parents’ concern.

When 12-year-old Adam has his appendix removed, signs that something else is wrong go ignored, resulting in his death.

A doctor’s failure to address psychiatric side effects of medication leads to the death of cancer survivor, Don.

Demi experiences common symptoms of the pregnancy complication eclampsia, but her concerns are dismissed by medical providers. Discharged from the hospital, Demi dies from a seizure at home.

Malakhi lived just 19 hours after medical negligence caused his, and this mother’s, deaths.

Shawn dies a preventable death due to undiagnosed pneumonia after 7-hour wait in the emergency room.

Richard was a brain cancer survivor. When a mild case of pneumonia put him back in the hospital, his doctor witheld treatment without informing his family. He let him die.

Sabrina enters the hospital excited for the birth of her fourth child. She passes away after complications that could have been addressed had her absentee doctor with a hidden history of negligence properly addressed her concerns.

Anayeli will never walk or care for herself after her mother’s pregnancy complications were ignored. A law that hasn’t changed since 1975 means families whose child suffers lifelong harm cannot get justice. Her mother is fighting for change.

Suzan’s lungs were permanently damaged during a surgery that should not have affected her lungs. Now she is fighting for injured patients across California.

Misty needed emergency surgery to save her life after her doctor botched a procedure he was barred from performing for harming other women.

Nina’s seizures are dismissed and left untreated for hours, putting her at risk of fatal internal bleeding and causing post-traumatic stress.

Surgeon negligently causes a pressure buildup in Brittany’s brain that leads to her painful passing.

Celeste’s normal delivery turns into a nightmare when her doctor forcibly removes her placenta without medication and perforates her uterus. He ignores her declining vital signs as she bleeds to death.

19-year-old Katy takes herself to the emergency room for symptoms of the flu and is told to take Tylenol. A day later, she returns to the hospital in a near diabetic coma, and her heart stops.

Baby Aspen undergoes a successful surgery to have a tumor removed, but receives a lethal dose of anesthesia, resulting in her death.

Young Alex sought emergency care after taking too many prescribed painkillers, but was given a deadly overdose of medications in the hospital.

Three years of misdiagnosis and multiple hospital errors lead to the death of 17-year-old Jordan.

Veteran Joe Allen’s outpatient surgery changes his life forever when providers fail to give crucial post-operative care.

Kira lost her life when her family’s pleas for help after a routine C-section were ignored. A law that hasn’t changed since 1975 means families who lose a mother in childbirth cannot get justice. Her family is fighting to change that.

Lloyd, a beloved political leader and fiancé, loses his life after a surgical mistake leading to infection and signs of sepsis are ignored by his medical providers.

Medical negligence during a simple hysterectomy cost Annette all four of her limbs.

Jose lost his life when his mother’s pleas to stop MRI’s that were burning her son’s body were ignored. A law that hasn’t changed since 1975 means families that lose a child cannot get justice. His family is fighting to change that.

While giving birth to her son, Kimberly received a forced and unconsented episiotomy, causing a preventable life–long injury and post-traumatic stress.

Charles’ allergic reaction to medication was dismissed and he was pumped with medication until he lost consciousness.

Alicia goes in for abdominal surgery and contracts a flesh eating disease, exacerbated by a doctor with a record of negligence and a hospital with a history of poor sterilization practices.

During a whooping cough epidemic, doctors fail to run tests that would have uncovered the illness leading to infant Mia’s death.

An unavailable doctor and dismissed concerns meant the loss of Coletta after a routine surgery.

Sally was forced through a series of painful procedures after the actions of a negligent doctor. Her husband, a medical malpractice defense attorney, knew the law was stacked against them.

When a rushed examination leads to the misdiagnosis of the flu, young Daniela’s pneumonia goes untreated, leading to her death.

A routine surgery turns into a tragedy after doctors overprescribe opioids and fail to monitor 11-year-old Leah.

Little Angel’s botched heart surgery leads to permanent brain damage

J.’s doctor failed to notify her of a critical vaccine she would need after spleen removal. She contracted a preventable infection and now lives with chronic pain.

T. underwent successful surgery but her doctor forgot to reverse the anesthesia before removing her breathing tube. She lost oxygen to the brain and never regained consciousness.

R.’s glaring symptoms of pneumonia were brushed off until it was too late.

After being denied an $800 CAT scan by doctor, young Steven is blinded and brain damaged.

Insufficient preventative and post-operative care lead to a severe staph infection in Patricia’s eye, causing permanent blindness.

Lena developed a severe infection after a routine procedure in the hospital. Her doctor put off surgical intervention for over two weeks, leading to months of needless suffering and her eventual death.

Holly’s surgeon cut through a critical vein carrying blood to her heart and sutured it closed, leaving her permanently blind and damaging her heart and lungs.

Lorraine lost her life after a botched elective heart procedure. A law that hasn’t changed since 1975 means there is no accountability when an elderly person is killed by medical negligence. Her daughter is fighting to change that.

After a failure to run a blood test during chemotherapy, 20-year-old Shawn dies of an infection, his immune system too weak to fight it.

Debra’s surgeon failed to secure her on the operating table, allowing her to fall mid-surgery. Then, he botched a non-emergency procedure performed without her consent. She lives with chronic illness due to her injuries.

After retired Dr. Keith Blair was admitted to a hospital for back pain, he was misdiagnosed and given a cocktail of anti-psychotic drugs that led to his rapid decline and death.

Concerns over the risk of sudden death when using general anesthesia for Williams Syndrome patients were ignored. Once anesthesia was administered, two-year-old Rowan’s heart stopped.

Insufficient preventative and post-operative care lead to a severe staph infection in Patricia’s eye, causing permanent blindness.