After the death of Donda West, hip-hop star Kanye West’s mother, fingers pointed toward her cosmetic surgery procedures. In November, 2007, Ms. West had an abdominoplasty and breast reduction surgery. She dies shortly after due to complications related to her surgery.
Due to Kanye West’s popularity, the death of his mother took on the appearance of a media frenzy. It also brought to light cosmetic surgeons and their practices. However, her autopsy shows that she likely died of heart disease, which added to the risk factor for elective cosmetic surgery. Her death is still ruled inconclusive by the coroner.
The Donda West Law
Donda West’s family didn’t stop looking into the cosmetic surgery angle after her funeral. Her niece, Yolanda Anderson, contacted Assemblywoman Wilmer Amina Carter (D-Rialto) to see what could be done. As a result of this contact, the two women have crafted a bill that will require cosmetic surgery patients to receive medical clearance from a licensed physician before their surgery.
Donda West reportedly did not listen to medical advice given to her by one cosmetic surgeon before she found another in the Beverly Hills area who was willing to perform the surgery on her. West’s pre-existing medical condition gave one cosmetic surgeon pause, but another was willing to either ignore, or not look into, this condition.
The Reason
Assemblywoman Carter believes that this legislation is important because so many more young people are considering cosmetic surgery. She wants to make sure that people are aware of the risks. This bill will go before a committee in March.
The reason this law is even being considered is due to the fact that not every person who goes into a cosmetic surgeon’s office will necessarily let them know of pre-existing conditions, family history, and more. However, there is also a small proportion of cosmetic surgeons who either do not check their prospective patient’s history close enough, or simply decide to perform the procedure anyway. Thus, we read about Donda West’s death.
While a vast majority of cosmetic surgeons will discuss your prior health and inherent risks associated with procedures, you should think about this yourself. Weigh the risks, research the procedure, and consider your health before consulting a plastic surgeon. Even though more people are getting cosmetic surgery, and most of these people are healthy, the fact that deaths still occur due to complications cannot be overlooked.
However, if you are considering cosmetic surgery, please contact an experienced cosmetic surgeon who will discuss your health and the risks involved.
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