TMZ.com and local Los Angeles news stations are reporting that Dr. Donda West, the mother of rap star Kanye West, died Saturday of a heart attack after undergoing two cosmetic surgeries: liposuction on her stomach and a breast reduction. However, an official autopsy is scheduled to be performed Wednesday.
Dr. West died in the emergency room at Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center in Marina Del Rey, Calif.
According to TMZ, she was rushed there at 7:35 p.m. Saturday night after paramedics responded to a 911 “sick person call” at her home in Playa del Rey. LA’s KABC news interviewed Dr. West’s neighbor, Millie Art, who said she heard screaming and hollering coming from the home shortly before paramedics arrived.
A hospital spokesperson tells TMZ that West was unresponsive upon arrival in the emergency room. After unsuccessful attempts to resuscitate her, she was pronounced dead around 8:30 p.m., according to the Web site.
TMZ is also reporting that several weeks earlier, a plastic surgeon had refused to perform procedures on Dr. West due to a pre-existing health condition that could have led to a heart attack.
“We’ve learned Beverly Hills physician, Dr. Andre Aboolian, was set to perform a tummy tuck and breast reduction on Ms. West, but told her she needed to get clearance from an internist whom Dr. Aboolian recommended,” TMZ reported. “We’re told West never went to that doctor, and subsequently had the procedures performed — but not by Dr. Aboolian.”
On the heels of that report, the doctor who actually performed the plastic surgery on Dr. West has spoken out. Dr. Jan Adams told the site that her death, which came after a tummy tuck and breast reduction, which he performed, was unforeseen and could have been caused by a heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or massive vomiting. Their report goes on to say:
“Dr. Adams tells TMZ West consulted with him over a period of four months. He says she changed her mind numerous times, sometimes greenlighting the surgery and sometimes halting it.
As for the TMZ report that Beverly Hills doc Dr. Andre Aboolian refused to conduct the surgery because of a medical condition that West had, Dr. Adams said of Dr. Aboolian, ‘he is sleazy and manipulating the truth to elevate his own importance.’
Dr. Adams says he did nothing wrong.”
