Paloma Nicole’s case began on September 11, when her father, Carlos Arellano, received a call from her mother saying that Paloma had tested positive for COVID-19. She explained they would travel to the mountains of Durango to isolate, warning there might be no cell signal. Carlos trusted this and didn’t suspect anything unusual.
On September 15, Carlos was informed that Paloma was hospitalized in serious condition at Clínica Santa María. When he arrived, she was already in a coma and intubated after a cardiorespiratory arrest that caused severe brain damage. Doctors briefly saw signs of improvement on September 19, but that night her condition worsened due to critical brain swelling. On September 20, she was declared brain dead.
After her death, Carlos revealed that Paloma had undergone cosmetic surgery without his consent, sparking complaints and a judicial investigation. The case has since raised questions about medical negligence, parental responsibility, and justice in Durango.