A tragic case of alleged medical malpractice has emerged from Santa Clara County, California, as a grieving daughter seeks justice for her mother's untimely death. Galya Mitova filed a complaint on May 6, 2025, in the Superior Court of California against Good Samaritan Hospital, Stanford Health Care, Atlas Intensive Care, and Dr. Arun Sharma. The lawsuit accuses these healthcare providers of negligence that allegedly led to the wrongful death of her mother, Katerina Stoichkova.
The complaint outlines a series of events beginning with Stoichkova's admission to Good Samaritan Hospital on January 14, 2025. She was suffering from acute hypoxic respiratory failure and was placed in the ICU. Despite being started on Heparin for DVT prophylaxis and monitored for platelet count drops, critical test results indicating Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT) were not communicated effectively between hospital systems. On January 22, Stanford Health Care reported a strongly positive HIT result through its Epic system; however, this information did not appear in Good Samaritan’s MediTech system until much later.
Mitova alleges that the delay in communication between these systems and the failure to provide timely treatment significantly contributed to her mother's deterioration and eventual death on January 24. Dr. Sharma is accused of failing to order necessary tests promptly and not consulting a hematologist when needed. "Had these healthcare institutions complied with the standard of care," Mitova argues, "Ms. Stoichkova would have been diagnosed with HIT early enough to prevent numerous blood clots."
The plaintiff is seeking various forms of relief from the court. These include general non-economic damages for loss of companionship and emotional support due to her mother's death and economic damages covering funeral expenses. Additionally, Mitova seeks compensation for her mother's pre-death pain and suffering under California’s Civil Code section 3333.2(b). The lawsuit also requests prejudgment interest according to statute.
Representing Galya Mitova are attorneys Craig S. Walkon, Bradley J. Walkon, and Andrew H. Walkon from Walkon Law Firm based in Capistrano Beach, California. The case has been assigned Case ID 25CV465268 in the Superior Court of California in Santa Clara County.