In a recent medical malpractice complaint, plaintiffs Karina Penaloza Gaona and her husband Jhony Llanos Anzaldo have filed a lawsuit against Methodist Hospital of Sacramento, Dignity Health, and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Thomas S. Hong. The complaint was filed on May 17, 2024, in the Superior Court of California for the County of Sacramento.
The case revolves around an incident that occurred on February 18, 2023, when Karina Penaloza Gaona was admitted to Methodist Hospital of Sacramento for childbirth. According to the complaint, during her stay at the hospital, she underwent several procedures including an operative child delivery and a tubal ligation. The plaintiff alleges that during these procedures, Thomas S. Hong administered an epidural injection without her consent. Initially informed by another doctor that Hong would only be observing, Gaona later discovered through medical records that Hong had actually performed the procedure.
The plaintiffs assert that this unauthorized administration led to severe complications due to medical negligence. They claim that Hong's improper technique caused significant nerve damage resulting in long-term injuries such as paralysis of the left leg, persistent pain in the lower back and leg, difficulty controlling bowel or bladder functions, and other debilitating symptoms. Additionally, it is alleged that there was a failure to recognize pre-existing conditions which exacerbated the risk of injury from the epidural injection.
Karina Penaloza Gaona's condition reportedly worsened over time leading to further surgeries including brain and spinal surgery on September 17, 2023. The plaintiffs argue that despite repeated complaints about her symptoms post-procedure, hospital staff assured her they were normal side effects which would subside with time—thereby concealing their malpractice.
The plaintiffs are seeking general damages exceeding the jurisdictional minimum of the court along with special damages according to proof. They also request compensation for costs of suit and interest as provided by law. In addition to claims related directly to medical malpractice, Jhony Llanos Anzaldo is seeking damages for loss of consortium due to his wife's injuries which have impacted their marital relationship significantly.
Representing the plaintiffs is attorney Gloria Martinez Senftner based in Sacramento while no specific attorneys for the defendants have been named yet. The case has been assigned Case No.: 24cts-009906.