Last night Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that was written after Kanye West’s mother Donda died during cosmetic surgery. During her autopsy, it was discovered that she suffered from high blood pressure and had a blockage in a cardiac artery. Schwarzenegger said he didn’t sign the bill because California’s massive, nearly three month long budget approval delay caused such a time crunch that he could only deal with the most essential bills.
A measure intended to prevent cosmetic surgery-related deaths fell victim to a rash of vetoes Sunday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The bill was written after the death last November of Donda West, mother of rapper Kanye West. The 58-year-old woman died one day after breast reduction and liposuction surgery, and an autopsy found health problems, including high blood pressure and cardiac artery blockage.
The cosmetic surgery bill, AB 2968 by Assemblywoman Wilmer Amina Carter (D-Rialto), would have required people to undergo a physical examination, give a complete medical history and get a doctor’s clearance before undergoing plastic surgery. It received almost-unanimous support in the Legislature.
In vetoing the measure, Schwarzenegger said this summer’s historic, 85-day delay in passage of a state budget left him with time to enact only the highest-priority legislation for California. “This bill does not meet that standard, and I cannot sign it at this time,” states the veto message, which he applied to dozens of others Sunday. Schwarzenegger has until midnight Tuesday to sign or veto all of the nearly 900 bills sent to him by the Legislature last month. If he does not act, those bills become law.
[From the Los Angeles Times]
In related news, Kanye is hosting and performing at a benefit concert for the Dr. Donda West foundation in Washington D.C. on November 4th. The focus of the benefit is to encourage young adults to get out and vote.
It seems like a bill worthy of passing, but with 900 to review, I can see why it went on the back burner.
what is arnold doing that he can’t accomplish what he needs to do? 🙁
People really need to take responsibility for themeselves. I really feel for the family here, but she was told by another doctor that she is not a candidate for surgery because of her health, she kept looking until she found a doctor that was willing to do it. Dont get me wrong, she didnt deserve to die, but people just need to take responsibility for their own health, it’s not the goverment’s job.
I agree with you, rules. Its not the gov’s job to handle people’s health in that way. Still, this would have been a great bill to pass. I don’t agree with it being named after her though. She was told that she shouldn’t have the procedure. She just didn’t listen, I guess.
Rules said it. The losers running (or should I say ruining?) my state were too obsessed with their partisan ideologies that they wouldn’t break free and come to a compromise. Arnie had to punish them by not signing any new bills until they decided the people who voted for them to run the state needed a budget. I HATE the two party system!!
“But I’m a republicannnn!! I don’t wanna raise taxes even though we’ve been dealing with this deficit since Gray Davis!!!!!” ::stomp stomp::
“But I’m a democrat!!!! I don’t wanna cut programs for able-bodied people relying on the government!!!” ::pout pout::
So, in answer to your question, Gigohead, Arnold was doing his JOB when he didn’t sign the bills.
He signed the ones that needed to be signed, including a pack of oil spill response bills.
This Donda West bill is bullcrap. She knew she was told NOT to have surgery, but did it anyway, and sought out a doctor willing to do so. It’s not the govenment’s job to interfere if you’re that desperate to have PLASTIC surgery that you ignore your doctor’s order and seek out someone who you know is unethical.
:rules:
I completely agree, when a one doctor tells you that you are a high risk patient when it comes to getting cosmetic surgery, that’s something to take seriously. Getting a second and third opinion until you find someone who will take you on as a patient just to get your money isn’t going to end up good.
Its awful that this happened, but its no one else’s responsibility but the patients’
Its awful how when things go wrong, people are so quick to blame others, or make other do something about it. 😕
I agree patients have to take personal responsibility, but I also think there are too many quacks that will continue to
operate unethically unless the law puts more constraints on them.
Too bad she didn’t pay attention to her physician. I agree with all who say it is the patient’s responsibility.
To neglect to listen to her physician just because she wanted cosmetic procedures done is very sad.
she should have listened to her doctor, she didn’t, and she died. it’s sad, but why is that the government’s responsibility? if the doctor did something illegal there are already laws in place for that. seems like a waste of time.
Kanye’s doucheness even affects the pictures he takes with his mom.
The problem with making this a law is enforcement. Common sense shouldn’t be legislated. I’m with Kate – it’s not a problem that needs a law.
It is important for medical physicians to be thorough when reviewing a patient’s medical history prior to undergoing any type of cosmetic surgery.
Cosmetic surgery is an elective procedure. I think Arnie did the right thing to focus on the more immediate bills that protect the public at large before focusing on this bill.
very cool blog here thanks allot for the article, im late but better than never 🙂