In spite of this, Lia continued to have seizures and there was great consternation among her physicians about her parent's ability and willingness to administer the medications. To address the compliance issues, her pediatrician asked the visiting nurse from the county health department to try to improve the family's compliance with Lia's medications. All the referrals were similar: "Febrile seizures, noncompliant mother."

On January 20, 1984, Lia was again admitted to MCMC and then transferred to Valley Children's Hospital in Fresno. After nine days, she was discharged with the diagnosis of pneumonia and gastroenteritis. At 20 months of age, an ambulatory care report noted that Lia "had no words...developmental delay?" and her pediatricians had become very concerned that the "mother will not give the Dilantin at home and had increased the phenobarbital to 60mg bid because she had run out of Tegretol." According to the pediatrician's note, "The mother brought a large sack full of medication bottles. There were three half-empty bottles of Tegretol. When questioned, the mother stated that she was unaware that these bottles were Tegretol. In addition, the mother also was unable to identify the Dilantin bottle. When I identified it for her, the mother gave that bottle to me and said that she did not want it at home."

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