Surgeon, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center deny responsibility in actor Bill Paxton's death

LOS ANGELES (May 4, 2018) – Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the surgeon who operated on Bill Paxton are denying responsibility for the 61-year-old actor’s sudden death after the family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against them in February.

Paxton, best known for his roles in Apollo 13 and Titanic, suffered a stroke nearly two weeks after undergoing heart surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles to repair an aortic aneurysm and replace his bicuspid aortic valve. Paxton’s family says the actor’s subsequent death on February 25, 2017 could have been prevented and they filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging wrongful death, negligence and battery against the hospital and cardiovascular surgeon Ali Khoynezhad.

Thursday, Dr. Khoynezhad and Cedars argued that Paxton and his family knew of the surgical risks. The hospital team argued in court documents that “at all times [Paxton and his estate] were aware of certain dangers and risks involved in the examination, diagnosis, operations surgery and medical care rendered to [Paxton].” The team also added that the family was aware that the actor had “an existing condition,” that made him more susceptible to operation complications.

But Paxton’s family disagrees. Their lawsuit alleges Dr. Khoynezhad did not disclose that his planned surgical technique was risky and “unconventional,” that he lacked experience with it, and that it was “beyond the scope of his (hospital) privileges.”

Actor Bill Paxton’s family files wrongful death lawsuit against hospital, surgeon

Dr. Khoynezhad left his position at the medical center shortly after Paxton’s death, according to the Paxton family’s attorneys.

FOX News reports Cedars and Dr. Khoynezhad are fighting to have the wrongful death complaint filed against them dismissed.