Donda West's Surgeon's Practice Decimated

Dr. Jan Adams Says It's Been "Almost Destroyed" By Publicity Since Her Death

(CBS/AP)  The plastic surgeon who operated on rapper-producer Kanye West's mother before she died said his practice had been hit hard by bad publicity following her death.

Dr. Jan Adams, who appeared Tuesday night on CNN's "Larry King Live," was asked by King whether fallout from Donda West's death had impacted his practice.

"Horribly," responded Adams. "It's almost destroyed."

Adams said as a television personality he was a target for bad press and lawsuits, but said he planned to continue practicing.

He hosted the series "Plastic Surgery: Before and After" for five years until June. He has also appeared on the TV shows "Oprah" and "Entertainment Tonight," sells a line of skin care products and has written two books on plastic surgery.

Donda West, 58, died at a Los Angeles-area hospital on Nov. 10, a day after she underwent breast reduction, tummy tuck and liposuction procedures.

A coroner's autopsy report earlier this month found that West most likely died of heart disease coupled with complications after the plastic surgery, but also said the exact cause of death could not be known.

"The autopsy said what I expected," said Adams, who declined to speak on specifics of West's case, citing patient-doctor privilege.

After the autopsy, Ed Winter, assistant chief of the Los Angeles County coroner's office, told reporters, "There was no evidence of a surgical or anesthetic misadventure. ... The surgery itself was not the cause. It appears that she did have existing cardiac issues."

Adams had previously said he believed West likely died of a heart attack or other non-surgery related health problems.

In November, Adams abruptly walked off King's show, saying the West family had asked him not to appear.

On Tuesday, Adams said he had been in contact with West family lawyers but not Kanye. He did not elaborate.