The maternity clinic La Sagrada Familia in San Pedro Cholula, where a 6-year-old girl named “Vicky” tragically died, is owned by Ignacio Alvízar Linares, a former local deputy from Movimiento Ciudadano (MC). Alvízar Linares has a controversial past, having been investigated for irregularities during his tenure as Secretary of Public Education under Governor Guillermo Pacheco Pulido.

The clinic’s parent company, “Maternidad La Sagrada Familia, sociedad anónima de capital variable,” was founded in 2014 by Alvízar Linares and his then-wife Irma Palacios García, who also partnered with him in construction businesses. At that time, Alvízar was serving as a local deputy in the LIX legislature for MC, before later becoming a councilor in San Pedro Cholula, where the clinic operates.

Interestingly, the clinic’s Facebook page features a homemade video from 2013—before the company was officially established—promising “the best facilities” and “top-level technology.” However, the video reveals cramped spaces and limited medical equipment, a stark contrast to what one might expect from a modern maternity hospital. The clinic even links to a website that belongs to a similarly named specialty clinic in Argentina, not their own.

Local reports from May 2016 highlighted that the clinic lacked a valid registration certificate from 2013 to 2016 and was shut down in 2015 for violating land use regulations. Despite a fine of 18,000 pesos for removing closure seals, the clinic continued operating.

In 2018, Jane Jessica Espinoza Agis was appointed as the clinic’s manager. She later became Alvízar’s wife and accompanied him during his roles as Undersecretary of Higher Education in 2017 and Secretary of Education under Pacheco Pulido. By 2022, then-Governor Miguel Barbosa Huerta revealed that Alvízar was a fugitive with no public activity recorded since.

Patient reviews on Google paint a troubling picture. One user, Brandon, shared an experience from two years ago where his wife gave birth at the clinic. He reported that the newborn was not given a first bath, risking infection, and that an adult medication was mistakenly prescribed—an alarming example of medical negligence. He also mentioned cockroaches in the rooms and strongly advised against using the clinic. Another reviewer, Carlos Sánchez, criticized the clinic for rude and unprofessional staff. A five-year-old review warned families to avoid the “negligent clinic” to protect their loved ones.

Despite partial closures of operating rooms, delivery rooms, and inpatient areas, the clinic reportedly continues normal operations. When contacted by Oro Noticias, the clinic confirmed it still offers consultation and even rents out spaces for surgeries, suggesting deals can be made directly with doctors—without mentioning the closures.

The State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) has opened an early investigation and secured only the operating room.

“Vicky” was brought to the clinic for a minor procedure, but hours later, her family was called to collect her body without any explanation of what complications occurred.

This tragic case raises urgent questions about healthcare oversight and patient safety in private clinics, especially in regions like Cholula where access to quality medical services remains a challenge. It also underscores the importance of transparent governance and accountability, particularly when former public officials are involved in private enterprises affecting community health.