19 September 2014
Newsdesk
Joan Rivers’ personal doctor claims rumours she took a selfie in the operating room are “lies”.
The 81-year-old comedian passed away on September 4 at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital after falling into cardiac arrest while undergoing surgery on her vocal cords at Manhattan’s Yorksville Endoscopcy clinic a week before.
CNN previously reported Joan’s personal ear, nose and throat doctor, who has now been identified as Dr. Gwen Korovin, performed a biopsy on the star and took a selfie photo in the procedure room while the Fashion Police star was under anaesthesia.
But according to TMZ, sources claim Dr. Korovin refutes this speculation as complete fabrication, alleging CNN’s insiders are “making up lies”.
TMZ also reports Dr. Korovin denies performing the biopsy on Joan during the comedian’s endoscopy.
Apparently many of Dr. Korovin’s patients have been calling the outlet to rave about how much they love working with her, noting she has an “unblemished record”.
Gastroenterologist Dr. Lawrence Cohen was the lead surgeon in charge of Joan’s endoscopy procedure.
The Yorksville Endoscopy clinic previously issued a statement, denying a biopsy was performed at the clinic, but the establishment kept mum on whether the comedian had an unplanned procedure, ABC 7 reports.
Dr. Cohen, who also served as the clinic’s medical director, is not currently “performing procedures” at the clinic, a spokesperson for the clinic confirmed via ABC 7. The doctor is also no longer serving as medical director.
Following Joan’s death, it was revealed the New York State Department of Health has launched a formal inquiry into the matter, focusing its attention on Yorkville Endoscopy.
And according to Radar Online, both Dr. Korovin and Dr. Cohen have hired attorneys.
“Dr. Cohen and Dr. Korovin have both lawyered up, which isn’t surprising given the circumstances surrounding the death of their patient, Joan Rivers,” the source told Radar.
“Both physicians are preparing to be questioned by the New York Medical Examiner’s Office and the New York Health Department about the circumstances surrounding Joan’s death. The New York Police Department is also involved in the investigation, but the medical examiner’s office has the lead on it.
“Neither doctor is accused of any criminal wrongdoing at this stage of the investigation.”