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joeybee12

(56,177 posts)
Wed Sep 17, 2014, 11:10 AM Sep 2014

CNN: Joan Rivers's Doctor Took Selfie, Performed Unauthorized Biopsy

Joan Rivers's personal doctor began to perform an unauthorized biopsy on the 81-year-old just before she went into cardiac arrest, CNN reports.

And another disturbing detail has emerged: An unnamed Yorkville Endoscopy Clinic staffer also told the news organization that the doctor — described as Joan's personal ear-nose-throat physician — reportedly took a selfie while Rivers was under anesthesia.

Rivers was at the clinic for a scheduled throat procedure by another doctor, gastroenterologist Dr. Lawrence Cohen. When he was finished, the comedian's personal doctor (whose name has not been released) reportedly began to perform a biopsy without her prior consent, according to CNN. The ENT was not certified to perform procedures at the Manhattan clinic, as required by law, says CNN.

"Investigators believe that Rivers's vocal cords began to swell during the allegedly unauthorized biopsy, cutting off the flow of oxygen to her lungs, which led to cardiac arrest on the morning of August 29," the source said.

https://celebrity.yahoo.com/blogs/celeb-news/report--joan-rivers-s-personal-doctor-began-biopsy--took-selfie-010531813.html

Saying she was murdered doesn't seem so far-fetched anymore. IMHO, another greedy asshole of a doctor in our for-profit system phucks up.

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Erich Bloodaxe BSN

(14,733 posts)
1. 'Personal doctor'. Hmmmm first Michael Jackson, now Joan Rivers...
Wed Sep 17, 2014, 11:15 AM
Sep 2014

Seems like the rich having 'personal doctors' might not be such a good idea. You're basically buying the right to a doctor who is more likely to 'do what you want' than to stick to standard scope of practice. Someone 'outside the system', who will only be called to account if something goes terribly, tragically wrong.

 

Kelvin Mace

(17,469 posts)
2. "Murdered" is still an inaccurate term
Wed Sep 17, 2014, 11:19 AM
Sep 2014

Murder requires "malice aforethought", which is absent in this case.

At worst, we can call it involuntary manslaughter, due to criminal negligence. Others will argue that it is simple medical malpractice. Given these details (if true), then the former more so than the latter seems this case.

Murder and voluntary manslaughter require an intent to kill the person.

 

joeybee12

(56,177 posts)
3. Yeah, unless the doctor was a Muslim hired by Obama
Wed Sep 17, 2014, 11:21 AM
Sep 2014

Who didn't like her Gaza comments. Should it be or ???

 

951-Riverside

(7,234 posts)
5. Seems to me this mysterious doctor literally slit her throat and killed her
Wed Sep 17, 2014, 11:23 AM
Sep 2014

Last edited Wed Sep 17, 2014, 12:01 PM - Edit history (1)

Rivers was at the clinic for a scheduled throat procedure by another doctor, gastroenterologist Dr. Lawrence Cohen. When he was finished, the comedian's personal doctor (whose name has not been released) reportedly began to perform a biopsy without her prior consent


Why isnt this person under arrest?

And was this done in an ER setting where machines that pump fluids and such are easily available or just a basic doctors' office?

Erich Bloodaxe BSN

(14,733 posts)
9. 'slit literally her throat' is probably a bit hyperbolic.
Wed Sep 17, 2014, 11:38 AM
Sep 2014

A biopsy on things in the throat, or even all the way down into the lungs, is done with a little sharp-edged 'grabber' tool that's attached next to a light, a camera and a lumen to spray water on the end of a line. You don't cut the throat open, you just snake the line down inside while watching what the camera sees on a monitor, position it, maybe spray a bit of water to clear any mucus, and then press a button to grab a (tiny) sample. It does cause the surrounding tissue to bleed a little, but very rarely to swell to the point that it would close off the airway. What happened to Mrs Rivers was an atypical reaction to a very common sort of procedure, one that often is performed on fully conscious patients, who have merely been treated to have their gag reflex temporarily disabled.

Given that she appears to have been placed under anaesthesia for another procedure, she would have had far more equipment around her than most patients would need for a throat biopsy.

 

magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
15. Huh? You don't perform surgery in an "ER" setting, or biopsies by "slitting throats."
Wed Sep 17, 2014, 03:01 PM
Sep 2014

You perform surgery in operating rooms.

The clinic was set up for endoscopy, where you slide a tiny scope down through the particular tubing you need to get a look at.

The doctor who allowed Rivers' doctor access was fired. Now Rivers' doctor will be charged with malpractice, lose her license and maybe criminally charged.

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
10. The "selfie" wasn't smart. As to biopsy, my understanding is that Rivers was having the endoscopy
Wed Sep 17, 2014, 11:44 AM
Sep 2014

because of a raspy voice, difficulty talking, or something like that.

I cannot imagine they would not have discussed possibility of having to take a biopsy if they found something while "exploring." If she needed a biopsy, I think any doctor would have planned on doing it while the patient is under anesthesia during that session.

Now, it's another story as to whether the doc was experienced enough to perform a biopsy, whether they reacted accordingly to the throat swelling, etc. If her doc is an ENT, surely he/she was biopsy proficient.

Sounds like they might have been playing around a little or something.

newfie11

(8,159 posts)
11. That clinic and dr are finished
Wed Sep 17, 2014, 11:47 AM
Sep 2014

I trained at the hospital that Jeff Chandler died in.
It was a laminectomy to be done coming in from the anterior.
Both drs (surgeon and anesthesiologist) were drunk and the aorta was cut. He bled to death and there was nothing they could do.
The hospital was bankrupt after that and sold, the name was changed.
The two Drs were sued but I never heard the results. I came there after new owners took over.

What Joan Rivers dr did is beyond incompetence!
Doing a bx on someone her age without proper emergency personal available especially in the throat is pretty bad and double that with no consent!

 

951-Riverside

(7,234 posts)
13. Not to judge a book by its cover but...
Wed Sep 17, 2014, 02:43 PM
Sep 2014

...If I had money I would not go to this doctor especially one that has photos of her clients on a wall.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]



Joan Rivers' personal doctor who was working on Joan when she stopped breathing is Dr. Gwen Korovin, who treats the biggest celebs in the world ... multiple sources tell TMZ.

We're told Dr. Korovin was not authorized to practice medicine at Yorkville Endoscopy center. CNN has reported Joan's personal physician took a selfie while performing a biopsy on the comedienne.

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2014/09/17/joan-rivers-doctor-death-throat-surgery-gwen-korovin/
 

joeybee12

(56,177 posts)
14. I'm willing to bet having those photos gets her more patients...
Wed Sep 17, 2014, 02:45 PM
Sep 2014

Our celebrity-obssessed culture demands it!

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