Cause of Death Revealed: Post Mortem Confirms that Comedian Joan Rivers Died of Brain Damage
Cause of Death Revealed: Post Mortem Confirms that Comedian Joan Rivers Died of Brain Damage
The New York Medical Examiner's office has revealed that the cause of death for Comedian Joan Rivers was brain damage due to low blood oxygen. It may be recalled that she had died on 4th Sept after battling cardiac arrest, which happened during a surgery. She was also placed on life support for seven days, but ultimately, she succumbed to her ailment.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the medical examiner ruled that her death was a 'Therapeutic complication', which happens when the brain cells are devoid of oxygen for some time, leading to brain damage. The 81 years old star had gone for laryngoscopy, in which the doctors usually examine the vocal cords and the rear portion of the throat. During the medical procedure, she was administered with an anaesthetic, so that she doesn't suffer from any discomfort, but unfortunately everything went awry after that.
During the procedure, she suddenly stopped breathing and she was immediately rushed to the Mount Sinai Hospital, where it was determined that she had suffered a cardiac arrest and doctors immediately put her on life support.
Even though it seems that utmost care was taken by the doctors during the after the medical procedure, yet the mishap occurred. No negligence has been speculated so far, and the medical examiner also after the post mortem failed to mention it as a cause of death. However, despite the ruling of non-negligence, Joan Rivers family is unconvinced about it and they are planning to file a case against the clinic where her laryngoscopy took place.
Rivers' daughter, Melissa revealed that, "We continue to be saddened by our tragic loss and grateful for the enormous outpouring of love and support from around the world". She also added that the ruling doesn't change things and the distraught family would still go ahead with the plan of suing the clinic.
"I always tell my clients when they come through here, every time you have surgery you're playing Russian roulette. The more surgery, the more the numbers can catch up with you - and as we know, Ms Rivers had a lot of surgery," according to medical malpractice lawyer Steven Harris.
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