(L.A.) Gerardo Marquez Rivas, 50, Died in a Hospital

Case Number: 2026-04134

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 50-year-old Latino male that occurred in a hospital.

The coroner’s office identified the man as Gerardo Marquez Rivas.

Manner of Death: Accident

Cause of Death: Malignant Hyperthermia

RIP GERARDO MARQUEZ RIVAS ( March 9, 2026)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Monday.

The decedent was from El Salvador and his family are raising funds to have his body repatriated to their home country.

Malignant hyperthermia is a rare, life-threatening reaction triggered by certain anesthesia drugs, especially during surgery.

Anesthesiologists are supposed to be able to quickly recognize the symptoms of MH and administer dantrolene.
 

GoFundMe: gofundme.com/f/gerardo-marquez-rivas
 

MH is mainly genetic and the condition is not determined or affected by obesity. However, while obesity is not a direct risk factor for malignant hyperthermia, it can worsen outcomes during an MH crisis by complicating airway and cardiopulmonary management, masking early warning signs, increasing anesthetic stress, and making rapid dosing of dantrolene more difficult.