The United States Department of Health and Human Services revealed that a New York City clinic made numerous medical errors and irregularities that led to Joan Rivers' death in September.
Rivers died on Sept. 4 in New York City with reports indicating that the "Fashion Police" star passed away due to brain damage several days after undergoing endoscopy.
According to federal investigators, the clinic failed to identify deteriorating vital signs 15 minutes before the 81-year-old comedian went into cardiac arrest, which eventually led to her death.
The investigation revealed that Rivers' blood pressure and pulse rate went down between 9:12 and 9:26 a.m. of Aug. 28 when she was undergoing operation - few minutes before doctors performed cardioplumonary resucitation.
"The physicians in charge of the care of the patient failed to identify deteriorating vital signs and provide timely intervention during the procedure," the federal investigators said in a statement, NY Times reported.
Reports also revealed that Dr. Lawrence Cohen, then medical director of Yorkville Endoscopy clinic, took pictures while Rivers is on the operating table, lying unconscious because of anesthesia.
Sources said that Cohen took cellphone pictures, thinking that his client might want to view the images after the operation, but the investigation found out that there were no documents presented to prove that Rivers gave permission to take photos of her during the procedure.
Federal investigators also found irregularities on the medical record. Initial report indicated that Rivers received 300 milligrams of Propofol, a medicine that cause a person to sleep unconciously, but the unnamed anesthesiologist suspiciously changed it to 120 milligrams on the medical record.
Rivers' body weight before the procedure was not recorded as well, which is required to determine the proper dose of anesthesia for the patient.
When asked to comment on the investigation, the Yorkville Endoscopy clinic told NBC that they will release a statement through proper agencies, and also added that Dr. Cohen is no longer working there.
