Dr. Jan Adams walks off the set of Larry King Live
November 20, 2007

Plastic surgeon, Dr. Jan Adams, the doctor who performed cosmetic surgery on Donda West, 58, the mother of rap superstar Kanye West, walked off the set of Larry King Live on Tuesday after the West family specifically requested that Dr. Adams not talk to Larry King about the events surrounding the recent death of Donda West. At the beginning of the show, Jan Adams took off his mic and told King that he wouldn't be going ahead with the interview, stating, "I have a tremendous amount of love and respect for the West family and they have asked me not to go on... And I've said from the very beginning, I don't have a side in this. They are my side and so I'm going to respect their wishes."

Just before he left the set, Adams stated to Larry King that he would answer all questions regarding the allegations against him only when Kanye West and his family are comfortable with him speaking about it. As broadcast on Larry King Live, Adams elaborated further, "If they're never comfortable, then I'll never be comfortable."

On Wednesday, November 10, Donda West died in Los Angeles a day after Dr. Jan Adams performed breast reduction and liposuction surgery plus a tummy-tuck on the mother of Kanye West. Since the sudden death of West, Jan Adams has come under heavy scrutiny from the media over how he might, or might not, have allegedly contributed to the death of Kanye West's mother. According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, Adams apparently revealed to the Times that West died from a heart attack, overdose of painkillers, or a pulminary embolism. However, also according to The L.A. Times, a preliminary autopsy report conducted by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office did not say whether drugs were a factor in the death of Donda West. After the interview, however, the Times article mentions that Adams called the Times office to clarify and insist that he was not referring to the case of Donda West, instead he was referring to a hypothetical case with a patient under similar circumstances.

Adams did indicate to Larry King and mentioned to the Los Angeles Times that he does have his own theories about the death of Donda West, but is not prepared to share his thoughts until the final coroner's report on her death has been completed, As stated in the Times article, the initial coroner's report indicated that "surgery or anesthesia" were the main contributing factors to Donda West's death, but an ongoing investigation has been opened.

Adams had agreed to a one-hour interview on Larry King Live, but after Larry King took to the airwaves to announce that Adams was in his Green Room contemplating whether to do the interview after he received a letter from the West family stating that if he did appear on Larry King Live, the West family would ask the California Medical Board to decertify Adams, stripping the doctor of his medical license, and preventing him from practicing medicine. According to the rush transcript on CNN's website for Larry King Live, after taking a seat in the chair in front of Larry King, Jan Adams declined to be interviewed out of respect for the West family, "And so I'm going to respect their wishes. And I'm going to apologize to you because I think I'm taking up your air time. But I will not be on the show and I will not discuss any of that. I'm going to honor their wishes, OK?

As a result of the heavy media scrutiny, Dr. Jan Adam's past has been brought to the forefront, which includes issues related to malpractice suits, back taxes, insurance, and previous drunk driving charges, which Adams did explain in full to the Los Angeles Times.

[image courtesy of CNN and Larry King Live. Copyright © 2007 CNN and Larry King Live. All rights reserved.]