Fredenalda Price underwent an elective outpatient cardiac catheterization at the Kansas City VA Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 20, according to reports. Her family says she did not return home after the procedure. Price was 57 years old, an Army veteran, and was known to her family as Stormy. The family has said that a doctor dissected Price's artery during the procedure. They also cited medical records that noted an issue with an intra-aortic balloon pump during the emergency and a network outage in the cath lab. A private autopsy reportedly identified iatrogenic complications of cardiac catheterization as the cause of death, with underlying conditions listed as contributing factors. Missouri officials later amended Price's death certificate, changing the manner of death from natural to accident. The family has questioned the medical center's reporting and response. Kansas City VA Medical Center has disputed the family's characterization, stating that it found applicable standards of care were followed. According to a VA statement cited in reports, the VA Office of Inspector General and The Joint Commission reviewed the matter and reported no adverse findings. The evidence and any further review will determine what occurred. What Makes This Incident Different This reported death involves care at a federal VA medical facility rather than a private hospital. That distinction can affect the process a family must follow if it believes medical negligence caused a death or serious injury. Claims involving VA health care may be governed by the Federal Tort Claims Act rather than the usual process for claims against a nonfederal provider. The reported change to Price's death certificate is also significant. The certificate was initially classified as a natural death and was later changed to an accidental death, according to reports. That development does not itself establish legal responsibility, but it may be important to a family seeking a complete explanation of the medical events and the post-death review. This case also includes competing accounts. Price's family has relied on a private autopsy and medical records, while the medical center has said its review found standards of care were met. A careful evaluation must account for all available records rather than relying on any one account alone. Questions Investigators May Examine Investigators may examine conditional questions such as: - What occurred at each stage of the cardiac catheterization and the emergency response that followed? - What do the procedure notes, monitoring records, and treatment records show about the reported artery injury? - Did the reported intra-aortic balloon pump issue affect treatment, and what do device records or alarms show? - What does the reported cath-lab network outage indicate about communications, documentation, or access to information during the emergency? - When were relevant events documented and reported, and were outside authorities notified when required? - How do the private autopsy findings, death-certificate amendment, internal reviews, and other medical evidence compare? These are not conclusions about fault. Investigators may examine the questions, and the available evidence will determine whether any act or omission contributed to the outcome. Evidence That May Need to Be Preserved For a fatal medical-treatment incident, prompt preservation can matter because records may be maintained by multiple departments or institutions. Potentially relevant materials may include: - The complete medical chart, including consent forms, procedure notes, nursing notes, and medication records - Records from the cardiac catheterization procedure and the emergency response - Device identification, maintenance, alarm, service, and usage records for equipment involved in treatment - Electronic audit logs, network records, and communications related to the reported cath-lab outage - Monitoring data, imaging, laboratory results, and records of treatment after the procedure - Death-certificate records, autopsy materials, pathology records, and communications concerning the cause and manner of death - Records of internal reviews, reports to oversight bodies, and any correspondence with the medical examiner - Statements or recollections from people who participated in or observed relevant care Families should consider requesting and preserving records as early as possible. A lawyer can help identify the appropriate records and send preservation requests without assuming that a particular record exists or proves a claim. What Families Should Know Losing a loved one after medical care can leave a family with urgent questions about what happened, what information is available, and which deadlines apply. Families may have the right to request medical records and to seek an independent review of records and autopsy materials. When a potential claim concerns care at a VA facility, reports indicate that the Federal Tort Claims Act may require an administrative claim using Standard Form 95 before a lawsuit can proceed. The reported deadline is generally two years from the date a claim accrues. The facts that control timing can be complex, so waiting for every question to be answered before seeking legal guidance can create avoidable risk. A medical negligence or wrongful-death claim is never automatic. Families may need qualified medical review, complete records, and evidence connecting the alleged conduct to the injury or death. No attorney can promise a result. How Dunk Law Can Help Dunk Law can help families evaluate a possible wrongful-death or medical-negligence claim arising from treatment at a federal facility in Missouri. Our team can review available records, help pursue preservation of key evidence, consult appropriate experts when needed, and explain the administrative-claim process that may apply to VA-related claims. If your family is seeking answers after a serious medical outcome, Dunk Law can discuss the information currently available and help you understand possible next steps without promising a particular outcome. Related Dunk Law Resources - All practice areas This post is based on publicly available news reports and is provided for general information only. It is not legal advice.