Bill Paxton’s Family files Wrongful Death Suit after Doctor Deceived

Bill Paxton died in February 2017, and in 2018 his family filed a suit against Cedars Sinai for negligence resulting in the wrongful death of the beloved actor. Now, a Los Angeles judge has ruled that Paxton’s widow and two children can file a wrongful death suit against the medical facility.

The family is blaming a doctor’s botched heart surgery that was covered up when the family’s request for an autopsy was ignored. Further, the family didn’t know an autopsy hadn’t been performed until the actor was cremated.

CBS Local reports that Paxton had died from a stroke, 11 days after his heart surgery for aortic aneurysm repair. He was 61-years-old. Now, 5 years after his death, Paxton’s family– widow Louise Paxton and their children James and Lydia– can take action.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Paxton’s doctor recommended an unconventional surgery without first getting proper training or explaining potential risks. The allegations also claim that Cedars Sinai and Dr. Ali Khoynezhad lied to the company hired for cremation and memorial service, in addition to covering up the cause of death by avoiding autopsy procedures.

Forest Lawn Memorial Park noticed that an autopsy wasn’t completed, but Khoynezhad claimed that the family “originally planned [for an] autopsy but changed their mind.”

Now Paxton’s family is alleging that Cedars and Khoynezhad “made a promise and representation to Plaintiffs that they would perform an autopsy on William Paxton… with no intention to perform an autopsy of William Paxton so they could conceal their role in causing the death of Mr. Paxton.”

Paxton’s family explains that, had they known an autopsy wouldn’t be performed, they would have arranged for the autopsy to occur elsewhere and prior to the former-actor’s cremation.

However, Cedars filed a motion in October, explaining the family’s claim does “not allege that any corporate officer or member of the board of directors had any role in the decisions concerning whether Paxton received an autopsy at Cedars or in communicating with the mortuary related to the family’s wishes concerning an autopsy.”

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Steven J. Kelifield found that the medical company had ignored a key allegation and announced this on Wednesday: the family was deceived.

Deadline reports further on the deceit, noting the suit states that “the heart surgery recommended 

to Bill Paxton was not indicated.” Additionally, “Mr. Paxton did not meet even Khoynezhad’s own criteria for such a surgery.” This latter statement comes with extra weight, as hospital staff note that the doctor was known for practicing “cowboy medicine.”

Khoynezhad no longer works at Cedar Sinai.

While the trial had initially been planned for March, it is now set to start on September 9 due to scheduling issues and spikes in COVID-19’s Omicron variant.

Cedar Sinai claims it cannot comment on pending litigation.