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The legendary comedienne was 81 years old when she passed away on September 4, following complications during a medical procedure at a Manhattan clinic.
And a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services is now claiming the doctors in charge did not “intervene” in a timely manner.
'Physicians failed to identify deteriorating vital signs'
“Physicians in charge of the care of the patient failed to identify deteriorating vital signs and provide timely intervention during the procedure,” said the document, obtained by the New York branch of ABC News.
It also claims Dr. Lawrence Cohen took photos of Joan while she was under sedation via the drug propofol. His excuse was apparently that the Fashion Police favourite might like to see them when she was in the recovery room.
In addition, the report says the clinic were unsuccessful in making sure only authorised medical personnel were allowed to be in the room for Joan’s procedure. She had originally gone in for acid reflux treatment.
They failed to “have an effective process in place to assure that only credentialed physicians can perform procedures,” it said.
The comic’s daughter Melissa Rivers released a statement regarding the department’s findings, which was also obtained by ABC. It said she was “outraged”, and interested in making sure this never happens to future patients.
“Melissa Rivers is terribly disappointed to learn of the multiple failings on the part of medical personnel and the clinic as evidenced by the CMS report,” her lawyer said.
Joan originally entered the clinic for a routine surgery, but after complications she was later taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where she was put into a medically induced coma, from which she never woke up.
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