After Joan Rivers‘ unexpected and somewhat sudden death, investigations are underway at the “clinic” where the late comedian was undergoing the unknown throat procedure since there were a number of sketchy factors in place. Like, for instance, that an accredited medical institution thought it was a good idea to perform a procedure on an 82-year-old woman under general anesthetic in office rather than in a hospital where she could get proper medical attention if needed (which she clearly did need). Also, there’s the new revelation that the doctor there took a selfie with Joan’s unconscious body and performed a throat biopsy without consent. Lovely.
From CNN:
A staff member at Manhattan’s Yorkville Endoscopy clinic told investigators that the doctor, who has not been publicly identified, took a selfie photo in the procedure room while Rivers was under anesthesia, the source said.
Rivers, 81, was at the clinic for a scheduled endoscopy by another doctor, gastroenterologist Dr. Lawrence Cohen. That procedure, intended to help diagnose her hoarse voice and sore throat, involved the insertion of a camera down her throat. After Cohen, the clinic’s medical director, finished his work, a biopsy was done on Rivers without her prior consent, according to the source.
An ear, nose and throat specialist not certified by the clinic as required by law performed a biopsy on her vocal cords. The doctor is described by the source as Rivers’ personal ear-nose-throat physician.
Investigators believe that Rivers’ vocal chords began to swell during the allegedly unauthorized biopsy, cutting off the flow of oxygen to her lungs, which led to cardiac arrest on the morning of August 29, the source said.
Yorkville Endoscopy issued a statement last Thursday denying reports that any vocal cord biopsy has ever been done at the clinic, although federal privacy law prevented any patient information from being released.
The day after the denial was issued, the clinic confirmed that Dr. Cohen “is not currently performing procedures…nor is he currently serving as medical director.”
What exactly is wrong with people? If these reports are indeed found to be true, this doctor needs to be charged with culpable homicide since it’s this unauthorized biopsy that caused her cardiac arrest – and her eventual death. Also, the selfie? Are you serious? Way to be professional, guys. Great work happening at Yorkville Endoscopy.