Bill Paxton's Doctor Accuses Late Actor's Family Of 'Harassing' Him in Wrongful Death Court Battle
By Ryan Naumann on December 5, 2019 at 6:47 AM EST
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Bill Paxton’s doctor is refusing to turn over documents the late actor’s family is demanding in their wrongful death lawsuit.
According to court documents obtained by The Blast, Paxton’s physician, Dr. Ali Khoynezhad, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center are objecting to producing documents and accusing the family of “harassing” them over the records.
Last year, Paxton’s family sued Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the actors doctor Dr. Ali Khoynezhad. The wrongful death lawsuit accused the doctor of failing to disclose things prior to a procedure.
They claim the heart surgery Paxton underwent for an aortic aneurysm repair was "beyond the scope" of the doctor's experience and privileges.
They said the doctor did not explain the risks of the unconventional surgery he recommended to Paxton or his family. Paxton suffered a stroke after the surgery and died one week later on February 25, 2017.
The suit claims Paxton suffered complications during and after the surgery, but that there was a delay in treating Paxton because Dr. Khoynezhad had left the operating room. Paxton’s family is seeking unspecified damages in the lawsuit.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Dr. Ali Khoynezhad deny all allegations of wrongdoing. They argue Paxton was aware of the possible dangers relating to his surgery beforehand. Cedars and Dr. Khoynezhad said the actor was "aware of certain dangers and risks involved" with the surgery. They even claimed Paxton had "an existing condition" that rendered him susceptible to complications from the procedure. The hospital and doctor have moved to dismiss the lawsuit.
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Earlier this year, Paxton’s family head to court accusing the doctor and hospital of refusing to turn over key evidence in the court battle. They sought Dr. Ali Khoynezhad cell phone records on the day of the surgery. The family believes the doctor left the operating room when Paxton started to suffer complications, which they claim lead to his death.
The documents noted that Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the doctor had turned over phone records but redacted information. They asked the court to step in and order the documents be unredacted.
Paxton’s family is also trying to get ahold of the doctors “surgical preference card.” Cedars claims to not be in possession of the information. Further, Paxton’s family has had no luck getting Khoynezhad’s administration file turned over.
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In newly filed court documents, Cedars and Dr. Khoynezhad argue the majority of the documents requested by Paxton’s family are protected under the law. They believe they do not have to hand over the documents. They argue any documents regarding Dr. Khoynezhad’s clinical privileges are protected.
They say the other requests are too broad and Paxton’s family is “unwilling to narrow the scope of the request and as such, Defendant is unable to provide a further response.”
They add, “Further pressure from Plaintiffs to produce response is harassing and unnecessary. As such, additional court intervention is unnecessary and an undue consumption of time and resources.”
In regard to the cell phone records, they have no plans to turn over additional documents to Paxton’s family. The case is ongoing.
