The hospital and doctor named in a wrongful death lawsuit by Bill Paxton’s family are denying responsibility for the actor’s death.
According to legal documents obtained by The Blast, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Dr. Ali Khoynezhad claim he was “aware of certain dangers and risks involved” in an “unconventional” surgical procedure. Paxton underwent surgery to replace a heart valve and repair aorta damage on Feb 14, 2017; 11 days later, he suffered a fatal stroke that was attributed to post-surgical complications.
The actor’s family filed a lawsuit against Cedars-Sinai and Dr. Khoynezhad earlier this year, claiming the doctor “failed to disclose that it was an unconventional approach” and was “beyond the scope” of his surgical experience experience.
The defendants responded to the wrongful death lawsuit in a February statement to The Hollywood Reporter:
State and federal privacy laws prevent us from commenting about patient care without written authorization. But we can share the following: Nothing is more important to Cedars-Sinai than the health and safety of our patients. These remain our top priorities. One of the reasons for our high quality is that we thoroughly review concerns about any patient’s medical care. This process ensures that we can continue to provide the highest quality care.
The Blast reports Cedars-Sinai and Dr. Khoynezhad are now asking the judge to dismiss the suit.
Paxton is most known for his roles in films like Titanic, Twister, and The Terminator, as well as the HBO series Big Love. He died at the age of 61 and was survived by his wife of 30 years, Louise Paxton, and two children, James and Lydia Paxton.
