Should Dr. Adams have been practicing medicine?
Posted on November 14th, 2007 by Hot Momma
A lot of scary stuff has come out on Dr. Jan Adams who performed the tummy tuck and breast reduction surgery on Donda West, who died Saturday at Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center in Marina del Rey after she stopped breathing at her home.
An initial autopsy shows she died from surgical complications, but an official cause of death won’t be released for weeks pending further tests, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office said.
Dr. Adams released a statement yesterday through a spokesman.
“I first want to express my deepest condolences to the West family at a very difficult time,” he said. “Out of respect for the West family and in the absence of other verifiable information, any comment from me without first discussing that information with the family would be unprofessional.”
Dr. Adams has had two drunken driving arrests - in March 2006 and September 2002 - that led to convictions.
The Medical Board of California is seeking to revoke or suspend Adams’ license over the arrests, saying he has “used alcohol to the extent or in such a manner as to be dangerous or injurious” to patients.
Adams has been sued for malpractice at least 10 times in Southern California since 1996, including six suits in Orange County in the last two years. He’s been ordered to pay six-figure judgments on at least three, records show
The NY Daily News tracked down a patient of Dr. Adams that tells a chilling story:
Bonita Hovey a former patient who paid $10,000 for a tummy tuck from Adams last year said she met the doctor at a medi-spa seminar in Southern California and heard he had been on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and Discovery Channel’s “Plastic Surgery: Before and After.”
“He’s a real smooth talker. Very arrogant. He told me I’d be running on the beach within two weeks of my surgery,”.
Within a week of her procedure, Hovey said she had an infection and a gaping wound on her belly. Adams, 53, saw her one more time before leaving on a European vacation, she said. Hovey said he didn’t give her a wound culture, take her blood pressure or even wear gloves as he removed some of her sutures.
After a month of torturous pain she found another doctor who repaired a 16-inch wound on her abdominal wall.
“I wouldn’t wish this on anybody. It destroyed me,” Hovey, who lives in Sacramento, Calif., told the Daily News. “I’m so disfigured. I’m never going to be the same again.”
She said Adams sent her home the night of the surgery, just as he did with Donda West.
“It was a damn nightmare. I’m so angry at him. And he’s so arrogant. I just think it was about money, not me as a human being,” she said
Hovey filed suit against Adams in March in Orange County and a jury trial is scheduled for March 10.
The medical industry has often been slow to recognize ‘bad’ doctors and get them out of practice. Hospitals are also reluctant to punish, remove or even give bad references for problem doctors. I can’t be sure about Dr. Adams but if it ‘quacks like a doc duck …
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Let me first say that this is a terrible turn of events, where a life has been lost, my heart goes out to the West family.
I just want to understand what one conviction of a DUI & another convection of a lesser charge .08, (this is accurate per the records, not multiple DUI’s as you have been reporting, do your homework) has to do with his ability to do his job. Was he drinking while doing surgery?
This person has been doing surgeries for over 20 yrs 6000 plus done; I would think if any of us who has done anything 6000 times, there would be a few unhappy customers.
Doctors are the most sued professional group there is, let’s pull all the medical lawsuits in Beverly Hills, and post them on your site.
I have been in social settings where Judges, lawyers as well as Doctors have had drinks and drove home, is it right. No, that is why he was arrested and punished, should his lively hood be taken for something that has nothing to do with what he does as a surgeon?
I think not, if that is the case, lets not allow Senator Kennedy to continue being a senator (didn’t he drive off a bridge, after having too much to drink? Leaving a woman to die?) Or let’s take Robert Downy Jr.’s ability to act after repeated run inns with the law, or maybe we should demand Senator Craig step down, he did enter a plea in a Gay Sex Sting didn’t he? Or Mel Gibson, Kiefer Sutherland 3 times DUI, Lakers Owner Jerry Buss, and the list goes on, why is the media trying to go after this guy? Makes you think about how Bill Belichick is still coaching after being caught doing something directly concerning football (CHEATING IN FOOT BALL) and players are suspended and even band from the game for things that have nothing to do what football, what am I thinking those other guys are white!
Your publication is nothing more than a racist rag!
Hello Ben,
You seem to mostly focus on the DUI incidents in your defense of Dr. Adams, which I agree should not preclude him from practicing medicine. And I am not even saying that the lawsuits should either without careful investigation. My issue is that the medical profession/board has a bad track record about investigating these types of incidents and many bad doctors that should be put out of practice are not. Agreeing or disagreeing with my opinion is fine. But how can you say this website is a racist publication? Have you ever been to this site before and read a sampling of the articles? Or is it simply because Dr. Adams is black? Do you really think my article would have been written any differently if Dr. Adams had been white? No way!!!!
my beef is with oprah… shes introducing the world to a bunch of QUACKS!!! “dr.phil” “dr.adams”
i could careless if this douche is black, white red or purple…. if he was under the influence while he was at work yes he should be locked away.. but if these dui charges are happening when hes off the clock, thats personal life..belive it or not, some ppl can seperate those lives. ms.west, could very well have had a heart attack or an allergic reaction…now people im not defending the good doctor, at all!!! a life was lost, that can never be replaced.. a family lost their mother, sister, aunt, friend,compainion,the rock. im deeply sorry for the west family loss, but all sides should be seen before fingers are pointed. its hard at times but needs to be done… the family may not be able to do it, thats why the public should be speakin up