Arnold Schwarzenegger Signs Donda West Plastic Surgery Law in California

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed the Donda West Law, which requires anyone undergoing plastic surgery in the state to receive a mandatory physical examination first, according to the Los Angeles Times. Hopefully this will set a precedent and other states will follow suit in the name of patient safety.

The bill was written in response to the death in 2007 of Kanye West's mother, Donda, 58, who died of complications related to cosmetic surgery. Dr. West's family reportedly believe that a pre-op physical exam would have uncovered coronary artery disease. West underwent several plastic surgery procedures (breast lift and tummy tuck with liposuction reportedly) without medical clearance, and her coronary disease and postoperative factors are believed to have contributed to her death.

Dr. West's niece, Yolanda Anderson, was one of the primary movers behind the bill, which also requires a mandatory written clearance before surgery. Schwarzenegger vetoed the first pass of the bill in February 2008, then signed it on Monday after it was resubmitted this past February.
"Sometimes patients may think they are well enough for cosmetic surgery, but in reality are not," said Assemblywoman Wilmer Amina Carter, one of the leading sponsors of the bill. "This bill will potentially save lives."

After his infamous run-in with Taylor Swift at the VMAs last month, Kanye West told talk-show host Jay Leno that his mother would have been disappointed in his behavior. West also said that the pain from his mother's death still haunts him and that after two years of nonstop touring, recording and performing.

Schwarzenegger Vetoes "Donda West" Cosmetic Surgery Law

Gov. Arnold Schwarzengger killed legislation intended to reduce the risk of cosmetic surgery Sunday, citing the state's historic budget delay as reason for his gubernatorial veto.

"Given the delay, I am only signing bills that are the highest priority for California," Schwarzengger wrote in his veto message for AB 2968, by Assm. Wilmer Amina Carter, D-Rialto. He then added, "This bill does not meet that standard and I cannot sign it at this time".

Called the "Donda West Law," the bill was named after singer Kanye West's mother, who died after undergoing elective breast reduction and tummy tuck last November. The measure would have required patients to undergo a physical examination and therefore medical clearance prior to elective, cosmetic surgery to help avoid complications (normally, prudent surgeons would ensure that this happens anyway without being forced by state legislation).
Source: News 10 ABC.

Let's hope once the budget and tanking economy are addressed he will pay more attention to it, and perhaps board certification and credentialing will be put on the table as issues in the national arena on this important subject.

New State Law in California sets Welcomed Precedent for Patient Safety after Donda West's Death

The California Senate has approved new laws relating to plastic surgery following the untimely death of Donda West. The Senate announced on Thursday that the new laws require patients to undergo a physical examination before any surgery takes place (we as plastic surgeons call this a "medical clearance" and it is obtained in order to assess the medical status of patients undergoing elective surgery; seems pretty basic and common sense, huh?).

Senator Mark Ridley Thomas admitted that the new legislation was in direct response to West's postoperative death in November last year. Ridley-Thomas told the Los Angeles Times: "Many of us are concerned about the quality of care extended to those who receive elective surgery.� Source: Taletela.com

West was undergoing a tummytuck, or abdominoplasty, and liposuction combined with a breast reduction shortly before the time of her death. Here is the story as it broke on FoxNewsLive when I was interviewed about it.

I hope this will inspire similar legislation all over the United States for the sake of patient safety. Board certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, credentialing in local hospitals, and verification of licensure and any disciplinary action are all important things for consumers to research when picking a plastic surgeon these days.