In the ongoing saga over Joan Rivers’ death, the latest developments suggest even more shocking negligence than previously reported.
As the New York Post puts it, “Rivers might still be alive if the two throat specialists who performed her ill-fated August procedure had simply started CPR and called 911 when [she] first went into shock.”
But they didn’t, according to new and painstakingly reconstructed documentation. Instead, as TMZ reports, the doctors continued to scope her throat for nearly fifteen minutes even though her vital signs were clearly plummeting. Experts say that CPR was warranted during that time but not performed.
Then, the Post claims, even after Rivers went into full-blown cardiac arrest, the doctors delayed for another ten minutes before calling 911, choosing instead to attempt resuscitation themselves (unsuccessfully).
If true, those allegations would certainly be damaging for the defendants in daughter Melissa Rivers’ wrongful death lawsuit.
Wrongful death is a legal doctrine that allows close family members to file a personal injury lawsuit for the suffering they’ve experienced after a loved one’s death due to negligence.
While Melissa Rivers has yet to formally file a wrongful death lawsuit, insiders expect it to happen soon. We’ll keep you updated as the story continues to develop, so check back in the weeks and months ahead.
