Kanye West Releases Statement on Behalf of Family; Doctor Denies Wrongdoing

Before we get to the controversy involved in the death of Donda West, here's a statement her son issued on behalf of his mourning family:

"Kanye West, his family and friends would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support and kind words that have come in from across the country since the death of his mother, Dr. Donda West.

After working in higher education for 31 years, Dr. Donda West and Kanye West co-founded the Kanye West Foundation with the mission of helping to combat the severe dropout problem in high schools across the country.

The first and signature initiative of the Kanye West Foundation is Loop Dreams. Designed to capitalize on students existing interest in hip-hop, Loop Dreams challenges students to learn more about what's behind hip-hop culture in order to help them develop skills, express themselves creatively and be empowered.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Dr. West's name to the Kanye West Foundation/Loop Dreams Teacher Training Institute."

But there's more. The doctor who performed the procedure, Jan Adams, is taking issue with anyone who claims he contributed to the tragic death...

The plastic surgeon told TMZ that the death followed a tummy tuck and breast reduction. He says it was unforeseen and could have been caused by a heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or massive vomiting.

But what about the report that Beverly Hills doctor Andre Aboolian refused to conduct the surgery on West due to a medical condition she suffered from? Dr. Adams said of Dr. Aboolian:

"He is sleazy and manipulating the truth to elevate his own importance."

Dr. Adams added that he did nothing wrong.