The New York State Department of Health is investigating the death of Joan Rivers, who passed Thursday, a week after she lost consciousness at an outpatient surgery clinic in Manhattan.
Sean Katz, Rivers' spokesman, said that the 81-year-old was having a routine procedure on her vocal chords at the Yorkville Endoscopy Center when she had to be transported to nearby Mount Sinai Hospital following a 911 call from the clinic.
The Wall Street Journal reported that health department investigators were on-site at the clinic on Thursday, and released a statement that said in part, "DOH can initiate an investigation based on information from a variety of sources, including but not limited to the public, health care workers, and government referrals."
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The clinic was opened in 2013, licensed, and has had no violations.
Health Department spokeswoman Monica Mahaffey
told The New York Times, before Rivers' death was announced, "We’re investigating the matter." Asked to elaborate, she declined.
Melissa Rivers, Joan's only daughter, said Wednesday her mother was moved from intensive care to a private room at the hospital. Around 3 p.m. Thursday, she sent out an email announcing that her mother "passed peacefully at 1:17 p.m. surrounded by family and close friends." She also thanked hospital staff for providing "amazing care."
"My mother’s greatest joy in life was to make people laugh," she said. "Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon."
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