Urizar-Mota et al vs. United States Of America

Case Background

On April 7, 2021, Plaintiff Lucia Urizar-Mota and others filed a Medical Malpractice lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island (Case number: 1:21cv155). This case was assigned to Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. And referred to Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan.

Cause

On November 14, 2012, Lucia Urizar-Mota visited Providence Community Health Center seeking medical treatment for a severe headache. Over the next seven years, she consistently returned to the health center, reporting worsening and persistent headaches. Despite her repeated complaints, the medical providers failed to order imaging studies, such as a CT scan or MRI, to identify the cause of her symptoms. On June 19, 2019, Lucia once again attempted to seek medical care at the health center. While waiting on the premises, she passed out in her car. Emergency Medical Services transported her to the Rhode Island Hospital Emergency Department, where she arrived with a severe headache and vomiting. At the hospital, medical professionals performed a CT scan, which revealed a brain tumor—juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma. The tumor caused significantly dilated ventricles, blood clots, and diffuse brain pressure. Blood had pooled in multiple regions, including the third and fourth ventricles, signaling a life-threatening condition. On June 24, 2019, surgeons performed an operation to remove the brain tumor. Following surgery, Lucia suffered a cerebellar stroke, which caused permanent brain damage. A post-operative MRI confirmed injuries to critical neural connections between the cerebellum and brainstem. Providence Community Health Center’s records showed that its providers never ordered brain