Investigation into death of Kanye West's mother looks at her nephew, source says

More than a year after the death of rapper Kanye West's mother, state officials are conducting an investigation of her nephew, a registered nurse who oversaw her recuperation after her plastic surgery, according to a person with knowledge of the probe.

Stephan Scoggins, a registered nurse with an advanced degree in public health, was in charge of caring for Donda West when she returned home after a 5 1/2 hour operation at a Brentwood-area clinic.

Scoggins declined to comment on the investigation by the California Board of Registered Nursing, which was first reported by People.com last week. The board is responsible for regulating and disciplining the state's registered nurses. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing.

According to a report by the Los Angeles County coroner, Donda West had arranged for her nephew to take care of her at her home after the operation, even though she had been advised to recover at a postoperative-care facility.

Scoggins and two other caregivers stayed with Donda West on the evening after the Nov. 9, 2007, operation, according to the coroner's report.

Scoggins said that the next morning "West appeared to be doing so well he left for the day, with the intention to return and spend the night with his aunt," according to the coroner's report.

West spent her final hours warm to the touch, breathing heavily and reporting pain in her throat and chest, the coroner's report said. A friend found West cold and clammy in her bed, and she was pronounced dead after being rushed to Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center.

--Rong-Gong Lin II

Photo: Reed Saxon/Associated Press

Comments

[Tina Thompson]

Sometimes we have to really slow our rolls and simply do things such as this really the right way. Five hours of surgery? then straight home? why go against the advisement of professionals to complete for surety and safety, even after 1 hour of surgery?! when the birds come calling you do have to answer to that, it was simply Ms. West's time, her way, possibly; I would have recuperated at the facility and not under just one individual; something's not right there .... easy access to drugs, all kinds? think about it; sometimes a good roll has to come to an abrupt stop especially when something fishy may be in the picture.

[hoffmfel]

What do you mean he left? Irresponsible !

[AVRIL]

AS A REGISTERED NURSE WHO HAS HAD COSMETIC SURGERY, I FOLLOWED THE ADVISE OF MY DOCTOR AND WENT TO THE POST-CARE FACILITY LOCATED CLOSE TO THE SURGERY SITE TO RECUPERATE. I AGREE WITH "TINA", SOMETHING DOES NOT FIT IN THIS EQUATION. I HAD AROUND THE CLOCK CARE BY MORE THAN ONE INDIVIDUAL, WHO NEVER LEFT ME UNATTENDED. I FEEL FOR THE FAMILY, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THEM. I ALSO HATE THAT THIS HAS SOMEWHAT GIVEN A "BLACK- EYE" TO OUR FEW AFRICAN-AMERICAN PLASTIC SURGEONS HERE IN CALIFORNIA. I DON'T KNOW JAN PERSONALLY, BUT I'VE HEARD ALOT OF GOOD THINGS ABOUT HIM. DR. A.G. OF BEVERLY HILLS IS OUTSTANDING!!!!

[Jim McMahon]

The nouveau riche like to have it THEIR WAY. Well...she got it! This is actually a cautionary tale illustrating the travails of affirmative action AND nepotism.