Med Mal Suit Over Joan Rivers’ Death

Melissa Rivers, daughter of comedian Joan Rivers, has instituted a lawsuit claiming medical malpractice against the clinic where Joan Rivers was undergoing surgery at the time of her death, and the doctor who performed it.    There are allegations that, during the procedure, the staff at the clinic were acting like “groupies,” taking “selfies” with the comedian while she was under anesthesia.  The main complaint, however, is the doctor’s failure to perform a tracheotomy, which allegedly could have enabled Joan Rivers to begin to breathe again after her breathing stopped during the surgery.  There are other allegations that the staff performed two unauthorized procedures on the comedian.   It is alleged that Joan Rivers would be alive today had a tracheotomy been administered.  The doctor was terminated by the clinic soon after the Joan Rivers’ death.  Due to the amount of projects the comedian was working on at the time of her death (fashion police television show, writing books, and performing stand-up), it is predicted that the Rivers’ family could receive millions in damages.  Rolling Stone has the story.