Alvarado

I. BACKGROUND

A. Undisputed Facts1 In late February 2016, Alvarado twice went to a hospital emergency room complaining of a headache, stiff neck, and hearing loss related to a shunt catheter and shunt tube that had been placed in his head more than ten years before.2 Alvarado improved and was discharged both times. Just a couple days later, however, Alvarado again sought emergency care for similar symptoms—this time at West Hills Hospital—and doctors admitted him for further treatment. On March 1, 2016, while still hospitalized, Alvarado was seen by Dr. Leon Barkodar, a neurologist. He recommended neurosurgery personnel check Alvarado’s cerebrospinal fluid at

1 Consistent with governing law, our summary of the facts is stated in the light most favorable to Alvarado. (Hughes v. Pair (2009) 46 Cal.4th 1035, 1039.) 2 Years earlier, Alvarado was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri, a condition that causes increased pressure inside the head—pressure that, if untreated, can cause vision loss.

2 the shunt and undertake a lumbar puncture to evaluate Alvarado for possible viral meningitis. Alvarado was then seen by Wilson, who asked Alvarado’s mother to bring him old imaging and chart…