Donda West's Surgeon Bolts From TV Session

A plastic surgeon who operated on rapper Kanye West's mother the day before she died abruptly walked off CNN's "Larry King Live" during what was to be his first televised interview since the operation.

Dr. Jan Adams said Tuesday night he initially agreed to speak with King to clear up what he said were inaccurate reports about him in the news media. But he said West's family asked him not to appear on the show.

"I have a tremendous amount of love and respect for the West family and they have asked me not to go on," he said. "And I've said from the very beginning, I don't have a side in this. They are my on side, and so I'm going to respect their wishes."

As he was taking off his microphone and standing up to leave the set, King asked Adams, "Don't you want to speak out?"

"No, I do not," Adams answered.

West, 58, died at a Los Angeles-area hospital on Nov. 10, a day after she underwent breast reduction, tummy tuck and liposuction procedures. She may have died of a heart attack, pulmonary embolism or accidental overdose of painkillers prescribed after the procedures, Adams told the Los Angeles Times for a story posted online Monday night.

West was Kanye's first manager. She also oversaw her son's business enterprises.

Adams said he suspected one theory but would not elaborate until the coroner issues an official cause of death. "I believe I know exactly what happened to her, but I will not comment on it until I see the final report," he told the newspaper.

The coroner has said early indications suggest West died from surgical complications. An official cause of death will not be determined for weeks, pending the results of toxicology and other tests.

As Adams was leaving and shaking King's hand, the TV host asked whether the surgeon would ever answer questions surrounding Donda West's death.

"When they're comfortable, then I'll be comfortable. If they're never comfortable, then I'll never be comfortable," Adams said, referring to West's family. "They are what's important to me. I said that from the start and that's what I'll continue to honor."

His brief television appearance came several hours after a funeral service for Donda West.

Off air, Adams told King he'd received a letter from the West family threatening him that, if he were to speak out publicly, they would ask the California Medical Board to take away his license.

The board was already seeking to suspend or revoke Adams' license for drunk driving arrests.

As one of Hollywood's best-known plastic surgeons, Adams has often been seen on TV, including guest appearances on "Oprah."

Since Donda's death, it's come to light that Adams is facing multiple malpractice suits, including one for alleged sexual assault.

In the interview with the Los Angeles Times, Adams acknowledged the malpractice suits but said, "Ninety-nine percent of them are what ee in this business call nuisance lawsuits."

On The Early Show Wednesday, Dr. Anthony Griffin, a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Beverly Hills, Calif., told co-anchor Julie Chen, " Adams is licensed, but not board-certified.

"Every doctor who has an M.D. -- and, in California, who has a DDS -- can practice plastic surgery," Griffin explained. "But that doesn't mean they have trained and have specific qualifications in plastic surgery. The American Board of Plastic Surgeons, our licensing board, requires that we have training in general surgery and training specifically in plastic surgery. We have to pass rigorous tests and be policed by our peers. So, the public can take some solace, if you have a board-certified plastic surgeon, that they have competence and training. Unfortunately, Dr. Adams did not have that training.

"Plastic surgery is serious business. And I think, from this case, we have obviously emphasized that. But, people have to do their homework. And ... just because a surgeon is board-certified doesn't mean you're going to get an outcome that you like. But you can be assured that that surgeon has competence, training, and adheres to a high ethical standard."

Griffin added that, "A lot of doctors nowadays want to be plastic surgeons, and they will actually lie to their patients about their credentials. I've had physicians tell me directly, particularly those who are g-y-ns (gynecologists) and dermatologists, 'I just tell the patient I'm board certified.' "

To learn if someone actually is credentialed in plastic surgery, Griffin noted, members of the public can go to www.plasticsurgery.org and, "If you don't see your doctor's name on that list, you should not only walk, but run out of that office."

In many states, information on whether there are any lawsuits or disciplinary actions against a physician is available online.

Griffin expressed another concern about Donda's operation, saying, "I think what bothers me most . . . is that she had a long surgery on a Friday and went home after surgery. Typically, a patient who has eight-hour surgery like that would be in a monitored setting in an aftercare."

He also cited a study that showed patients who have major surgery generally fare btter if it's done earlier in the week.

Griffin has appeared on "Extreme Makeover" and other TV shows.