West's Doc Has Malpractice, DUI History : Report

Nov. 13, 2007 — -- Rap star Kanye West's mother, Donda West, had a tummy tuck and breast reduction performed by cosmetic surgeon Dr. Jan Adams before her death, according to the Web site TMZ.com.

Adams told TMZ that he was not responsible for her death, but that she may have died from a heart attack, pulmonary embolism or massive vomiting.

West's death may not be the first untoward outcome associated with the surgeon. Medical board records show that Adams had two malpractice suits filed against him that ended in payouts, according to The Associated Press.

These lawsuits, both settled in 2001, ended in payouts of $217,337 and $250,000.

The AP also reports that the medical board of California is investigating whether Adams' license should be revoked or suspended in light of his being arrested twice in the past four years for driving under the influence. The records show that in a 2006 case, Adams was found guilty of driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or greater, and that he pleaded no contest in 2003 to driving under the influence.

Another plastic surgeon, Andre Aboolian, told ABC News that West consulted him for surgery, too, but he deemed her a health risk and wouldn't operate unless she got clearance from an internist.

Aboolian said he "insisted that she see an internist before he would entertain the surgery because she had a condition that could have caused a heart attack."

Adams also told TMZ that West consulted with him over a period of four months, often changing her mind about the surgery, according to an article on the site.

West, a former chairwoman of the Chicago State University English department, died this Saturday at Centinela Freeman Marina Hospital in Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles County's coroner's office. She was 58.

Kanye West was reportedly in London, where he has been prepping for his upcoming "Glow in the Dark Tour," when he received the tragic news. He immediately returned to the United States. Family friends say he is absolutely devastated.

West's death underscores the risks of cosmetic surgery procedures. Nearly 200 people die every year from plastic surgery complications.

Today, about 2 million cosmetic procedures are done in the United States each year. That's a startling 446 percent increase in cosmetic surgeries since 1997.

This is in part because "procedures are much safer, more readily available and more affordable," said Dr. Allen D. Rosen, spokesperson for the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS).

These days there are far more doctors performing elective procedures, and the surgeries run the full gamut -- from simple surgeries designed to give longer and fuller eyelashes to full body reconstructions.