Details: Maria Elena Espinosa was a 45-year-old Miami nursing assistant and mother of two who discovered a 2½-inch lump on the back of her head. She was referred to Dr. Basil Yates, a Hialeah neurosurgeon, who said she needed immediate surgery. She also saw a radiologist who disagreed, suggesting a biopsy instead. Espinosa took Yates’ advice and proceeded with the surgery.
Both Espinosa’s pre-operative electrocardiogram and lab work were abnormal, showing protein in her urine. According to her lawyer, that was a red flag that should have been investigated before surgery since a skull tumor combined with protein in the urine indicates multiple myeloma, a type of cancer of the blood.
