Report details violations at clinic where Joan Rivers had procedure

NEW YORK, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- The Manhattan clinic that performed a procedure on Joan Rivers that eventually led to the comedian's death had a number of violations, a federal report released Monday said.

Rivers died Sept. 4, several days after she went into cardiac arrest while undergoing a throat procedure at Yorkville Endoscopy.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services did not specifically name Rivers in its report released Monday — she was identified as Patient No. 1 — but other details lined up with her case. The patient was listed as 81 years old and had the same procedure done on the same day at the same clinic as Rivers, CNN reported.

The federal agency found that Rivers' blood pressure and pulse had plummeted for about 15 minutes before cardiopulmonary resuscitation was attempted on her.

"The physicians in charge of the care of the patient failed to identify deteriorating vital signs and provide timely intervention during the procedure," the report said.

The report also found the clinic failed to record Rivers' weight before administering medication; failed to consistently document the dose of Propofol, a sedative, she was given; failed to get informed consent from Rivers; failed to make sure she received care only from physicians given privilege; and failed to abide by its own cell phone policy when a photo was taken of Rivers under sedation.

Jeffrey B. Bloom and Ben Rubinowitz, lawyers for Rivers' daughter, Melissa Rivers, issued a statement Monday in reaction to the findings.

Melissa Rivers was "outraged by the misconduct and mismanagement now shown to have occurred before, during and after the procedure.

"Moving forward, Ms. Rivers will direct her efforts towards ensuring that what happened to her mother will not occur again with any other patient," the statement said.