According to CNN, a staff member at Manhattan’s Yorkville Endoscopy clinic has allegedly told investigators that the doctor, who has yet to be publicly identified, snapped a selfie photo in the procedure room while Rivers was under anaesthesia.
Rivers – who was 81 at the time of her death – was at the clinic for a scheduled endoscopy by the clinic’s medical doctor, gastroenterologist, Dr. Lawrence Cohen.
Cohen is said to have inserted a camera inside Rivers’ throat to investigate her hoarse voice and throat.
After Cohen had finished his work, the source alleges that Rivers’ unnamed ear-nose-throat physician performed an unplanned biopsy on her vocal cords, even though the specialist was not certified by the clinic as required by law.
Dr. Arthur Caplan, a medical ethicist at New York University’s Langone Medical Center, told CNN that if this was the case physicians may not have followed proper medical protocol.
“Even though you are a licensed physician, you still should have, if you will, the checks and balances to get your approval to practice in that particular place,” said Caplan.
According to CNN, investigators suspect that Rivers went into cardiac arrest after her vocal cords began to swell during following the unauthorised biopsy, cutting off the flow of oxygen to her lungs.
Following the complications Rivers was rushed to New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital, where she remained in a coma and died a week later.
Currently neither Cohen, nor the ear, nose and throat doctor have been accused of misconduct by investigators.
Joan Rivers’ was farewelled at an extravagant funeral on September 7 in New York City.
Sarah Jessica Parker arrives at the funeral of comedian Joan Rivers.
Celebrities including, Sarah Jessica Parker, Whoopi Goldberg, Donald Trump, Diane Sawyer, Barbara Walters and Kelly Osbourne all walked the red carpet to say their final goodbyes to Rivers.
Authorities say they are still looking into the circumstances surrounding Rivers’ death as she reportedly showed no signs of poor health in the hours leading up to her procedure at the Manhattan clinic.
Friends in high places: Donald Trump and Barbara Walters were in attendance.
