Joan Rivers’ daughter files medical malpractice lawsuit

The nation mourned the loss of comedienne Joan Rivers last September, when she passed away from cardiac arrest at a New York hospital. Rivers, 81, had a procedure done on her vocal cords and throat on the Upper East Side of Manhattan at Yorkville Endoscopy a week before.

After an investigation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the clinic is facing a revocation of its federal funding and accreditation if deficiencies are not corrected by March.

Joan Rivers’ daughter, Melissa, has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the clinic. The suit claims that the clinic did not advise her mother about the possible treatment risks, and acted with reckless disregard for her mother’s safety and health.

According to a recent article at nypost.com, the anesthesiologist denies that she botched a chance to revive the elder Rivers. The lawsuit claims that the board-certified anesthesiologist didn’t request or demand a crash cart when Joan’s heart beat fell, as did the level of oxygen — below 90 percent. The anesthesiologist denies those allegations, saying that there was already a crash cart in the room.

The lawsuit was filed in the state supreme court in New York. It seeks an unspecified amount of punitive and compensatory damages.

Medical malpractice lawsuits, whether in Connecticut or in the border state of New York, are often complex and time-consuming. An experienced personal injury attorney can discuss the circumstances of your lost loved one to determine if you have a valid claim for medical malpractice. Negligent doctors and other health care providers must be held accountable.

Source: CNBC, “New York clinic that treated comic Joan Rivers sued over her death” Jan. 26, 2015