Donda West Doc: I Know What Happened to Her

Tue., Nov. 20, 2007 9:18 AM PST by Julie Keller

Last week, Dr. Jan Adams claimed he would maintain his silence because "I hold sacred the bond of confidentiality that exists between a patient and doctor," and to speak out would be "unprofessional."

Now, with his past legal and medical troubles being replayed in public, the plastic surgeon who has been under the gun for the Nov. 10 post-procedure death of Kanye West's mother has begun making the media rounds to proclaim his innocence.

Adams told the Los Angeles Times he thinks 58-year-old Donda West likely succumbed to a heart attack, a pulmonary embolism or an accidental overdose of painkillers following her Nov. 9 breast reduction, tummy tuck and liposuction.

"When she left this office, there was no problem whatsoever," Adams told the newspaper. But he did prescribe Vicodin to help her deal with the pain associated with the invasive procedures, telling the Times that West had complained following what was "probably a rough night," and Adams speculates she may have taken too many of the painkillers.

Before conducting an autopsy last week, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office said West may have died from complications related to the surgery. But it will take four to six weeks for toxicology tests to be completed and an official cause of death pinpointed.

"I believe I know exactly what happened to her, but I will not comment on it until I see the final report," Adams added.

Since West's death, the nip/tucker has been taking heat for performing the procedures at all. Dr. Andre Aboolian, who began consulting with West in June, refused to take her on as a patient due to an undisclosed preexisting condition. In a statement last week, Aboolian said, "I always insist on a medical clearance for women over 40, and in this instance, it was particularly important because of a condition she had I felt could have led to a heart attack."

Adams, who had previously relished media attention, hosing Discovery Health's Plastic Surgery: Before & After and appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Extra, is in jeopardy of losing his livelihood. At the time of West's death, the Medical Board of California was seeking to suspend or revoke his license due to various alcohol-related arrests. He has $500,000 worth of malpractice judgments and has been sued by patients in other cases. He also has liens against him for unpaid taxes.

"Yes, there have been some malpractice suits," he told the Times. "But 99 percent of them are what we in this business call nuisance suits. There's a level of selfishness that exists, and we as a system are telling people it's okay to think of yourself as a victim. And the real answer is they're not victims. There's nothing going on here that represents malpractice."

Meanwhile, Discovery says Adams hasn't been under contract with the network for more than a year and new episodes of Plastic Surgery: Before & After haven't aired since June.

Neither the West family nor the coroner's office has commented on the Times story.

Kanye West has been visibly shaken by the death of his mother. He broke down onstage Saturday during a performance in Paris while trying to perform his song "Hey Mama." But he continued his European tour with a stop in Belgium and managed to make it through the tribute song.

He's expected to attend her funeral Tuesday in Oklahoma City , then return to London for a Thursday concert.

Adams will continue to defend himself Tuesday night on CNN's Larry King Live.