In a dramatic legal turn, a California resident has filed a lawsuit against several healthcare providers, alleging severe medical negligence that led to significant health repercussions. Paula Sanchez initiated the complaint on February 3, 2025, in the Superior Court of California for the County of Santa Clara, targeting Dr. Mina Sarah Ally and several associated healthcare entities including Santa Clara County and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.
The case centers around Sanchez's claims of professional negligence after she visited her primary care physician in April 2022 with concerns about a spot on her ankle. Referred to Dr. Mina Sarah Ally, a dermatologist at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, Sanchez alleges that despite her insistence on testing for cancerous cells, Dr. Ally assured her the spot was benign and no further medical treatment was necessary. It wasn't until nearly two years later that a biopsy confirmed the spot was Stage IV nodular melanoma—a severe form of skin cancer—prompting surgery and additional treatment.
Sanchez's lawsuit accuses Dr. Ally of failing to meet the standard medical practices required by law, citing specific breaches such as not performing adequate tests or providing an accurate diagnosis initially. The complaint further implicates the associated healthcare facilities—Santa Clara County, Santa Clara Valley Healthcare, and Valley Health Center Moorpark—for their roles in maintaining competent staff and ensuring accurate patient records as mandated by California regulations.
The plaintiff is seeking extensive damages for negligence including general damages for misdiagnosis and failure to diagnose her condition correctly, special damages covering past and future medical expenses, loss of earnings due to inability to work post-diagnosis, emotional distress damages, and other related costs.
Represented by attorney Koorosh K. Shahrokh from National Choice Lawyers, Sanchez’s case will be presided over by judges yet to be named under Case ID 25CV458061. The lawsuit highlights critical issues surrounding healthcare provider accountability and patient safety standards within public medical facilities.