Coroner’s Report Inconclusive about Cause of Donda West’s Death

A report emerging out of the Los Angeles county coroner’s office, which is probing the sudden demise of Donda West, mother of Kanye West, has been unable to give a conclusive verdict regarding the cause of death.

According to the official report, Donda West exhibited symptoms of ‘coronary artery disease and multiple post-operative factors directly due to or as a consequence of liposuction and mammoplasty.’ Ms. West’s weight, registered at 188 pounds, was much more than the standard weight for a 5-foot-2 frame, her official height.

The report also said she had major blocks in two arteries. She developed post-surgery complications, which included bronchopneumonia in one lung, though there was no sign of internal bleeding, the report said. It further said the drugs in her system were only medication at standard therapeutic dosages, and there was nothing unusual on that front.

The report quotes medical examiner, Dr. Louis A. Pena, who examined the body and compiled the report, as saying two factors – heart disease and post-surgery complications – possibly contributed to Ms. West’s death, though there is nothing to state conclusively the exact cause of death.

The 58-year-old Ms. West, a former college professor and mother of Kanye West, had an extensive session of nip-and-tuck surgery on Nov. 9. One day later, she suffered a major heart attack. She lost her life despite the best efforts of paramedics, emergency room staff, and also companions, to bring her back.

The plastic surgeon who performed the surgical procedures – breast reduction, tummy tuck, and liposuction – on Ms. West, Jon Adams, has been investigated in the days following Ms. West’s death, and that brought to the fore certain startling facts about his medical and personal history, both of which are, to use a mild word, ‘interesting’.

Now that the report is out, Dr. Adams is saying he knew what the final report was going to show, and the only reason he had not said anything about it so far was respect for the privacy of the West family.

Dr. Adams said, “I believe I know exactly what happened to her, but I will not comment on it until I see the final report… Out of respect for Kanye West’s family, I want to honor the doctor-patient confidentiality agreement.” However, Dr. Adams’ is the only one saying ‘he knew’ what happened to Donda West.

The coroner’s report itself showed uncertainty in pinpointing the exact cause of death. According to the report, “Multiple postoperative factors could have played a role in the death. The exact contribution of each factor could not be determined. There was no evidence of a surgical or anesthetic misadventure.”

Kanye West has not yet addressed the findings of the coroner’s report. West is struggling hard to come to terms with his loss, as his mother had a profound influence on shaping his career as a musician.

Not only has West been overcome by emotion during performances of Hey Mama, at concerts in recent times after his mother’s death, the only time he actually addressed her death was through a post on his blog to all his fans. The post read simply, “Thank you for all your support.”