California lawmakers pass measure requiring physicals prior to elective surgery

Sacramento, Calif. — The California Senate has approved Assembly Bill 2968, a requirement that patients be given a physical exam before elective surgery, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The Times reports that according to Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles), the measure is a response to the 2007 death of rapper Kanye West’s mother, Donda West, who died of complications related to cosmetic surgery. The family believes that a physical exam would have uncovered coronary artery disease.

“Many of us are concerned about the quality of care extended to those who receive elective surgery,” the Times quotes Sen. Ridley-Thomas as saying.

The measure passed by a vote of 37 to 1.