Help Fund an Independent Medical Review of Catherine’s Care
On May 9, 2025, my wife Catherine died during a pacemaker procedure at Keck Hospital of USC. What was presented to us as a routine, low-risk intervention ended in a catastrophic cardiac injury.
In the months since, our family has been trying to answer a simple, fundamental question—
What actually happened — and should it have happened at all?
We have gathered extensive medical records, procedure reports, device logs, and monitoring data. We’ve filed formal inquiries with regulatory bodies. But there is a hard limit to what families can responsibly interpret on their own.
That’s why we are seeking an independent, professional electrophysiologist (EP) — someone with no institutional ties to Keck — to conduct a thorough expert review of Catherine’s care.
What This Fund Will Support
The funds raised will be used solely to retain a qualified electrophysiologist to—
- Review Catherine’s complete medical record and procedural documentation
- Assess whether the clinical decisions, timing, and technique met professional standards
- Evaluate risk communication and informed consent in light of Catherine’s condition
- Identify whether alternative approaches should reasonably have been considered
- Provide an objective, written assessment explaining what was appropriate, questionable, or avoidable
This review is not about assigning blame by assumption. It is about replacing speculation with expertise.
Why an Independent Expert Matters
Hospitals investigate themselves. Device manufacturers protect their products. Regulatory reviews move slowly and focus narrowly.
An independent EP review is different. It allows us to understand the care Catherine received through the eyes of someone who actually performs — and critiques — these procedures for a living.
Whether the conclusions ultimately confirm proper care or identify serious concerns, we believe the truth matters — for our family, and for other patients navigating similar decisions. Our research determines that the cost of such an evaluation typically runs about US$7,000.
How the Funds Will Be Used
Expert medical reviews of this depth are costly. Electrophysiologists capable of providing a rigorous, defensible assessment charge professional consulting rates, reflecting both their expertise and the time required to do the job correctly.
All funds will go toward—
- Expert consultation fees
- Comprehensive record review and analysis
- Preparation of a formal written opinion
No funds will be used for legal filings, lawsuits, or general expenses; we are not considering legal action at all at this point, just understanding and safety for future patients and their families. Any unused funds will be donated to patient-support organizations, or refunded where feasible.
Why We’re Asking for Help
This is not a pursuit of retribution. It is a pursuit of understanding.
Catherine was a person — not a statistic — and she deserves more than vague assurances and closed doors. We are asking for help to ensure that her care is examined carefully, honestly, and independently.
If you choose to support this effort, thank you. If you choose to share it, that matters just as much. And if you simply read this and think more critically the next time “routine” is used to describe a medical procedure — that, too, honors Catherine.
Organizer
