Community Chat

[scotttie]

Wow, focksie. I hadn't read that about the Medical Director stepping down. Does this mean he resigned or just won't be in charge?

[focksie]

Hi scottie

Apparently both to answer your question, as just reported again by ABC News:

"He has been removed (as Medical Director) and is no longer performing procedures there. The investigation by the State Health Department continues."

It was Dr. Cohen who gave the ok for the ENT that JR brought in to perform the procedure. This is not permitted by the Endo Clinic's policy.I believe they also said he was asked to step down by the Board of Directors.

[scotttie]

Thanks focksie. Hmmmm sounds like we have a scapegoat or something was amiss there.

(And yes, everybody, I'm speculating. WE will of course have to wait until all the official officials have the final word).

[elruth]

I thought the Dr she brought with her was a gastro Dr and he was the one who did the surgery. The Dr who did the scope was an ENT. I read that reflux can sometimes cause a raspy voice and that's why her gastro Dr was there. Why he stepped in and used the clinic's tools etc. after the ENT found something that looked questionable is beyond me. I can't imagine Joan didn't sign papers that said if they found anything that they could take a biopsy. Her energy for an 81 yr old was amazing. Sad that she died this way.

[NoelSeven]

On 9/8/2014 happy housewife said:

On 9/8/2014 pitdakota said:

On 9/8/2014 happy housewife said:

On 9/8/2014 pitdakota said:

.

HH, the term "twilight sleep" refers back to the 1960s (before my time in nursing) when they used scopolamine for women in labor. It certain isn't used for that any more.

And it is certainly correct that in some cases they might give scopolamine as they are bringing the patient up from general anesthesia to deter post op nausea. However, there are many newer medications they commonly use for that today.

Prisrob saw twilight sleep and immediately thought scopolamine as many health care professionals would knowing of its use in the 1960s.

Really, when i had both of my knee surgeries in 2011 and 2012 i had scopolamine preop for my history of serious vomiting post anesthesia. I guess the anesthesiologist didn't get your memo. It has been given pre op for years as an antiemetic. Yes, in the 60's and 70's it was commonly used. In those days patients were given pre op meds before all surgeries that almost always included scop.- usually with demerol.

HH, sometimes you just need to put your defensive shield down. It makes you look silly at times. I stated they do use it in some cases. However, many anesthesiologists may veer away from it due to its tendency to produce the anti-cholingeric side effects (dry mouth, blurred vision, confusion most notably) when there are other meds they can use that don't produce those side effects. But nobody said they didn't use it at all for post op nausea for goodness sakes.

yes, i am aware you know everything and those of us who actually PRACTISED bedside nursing for our career are just silly.

Whoa, you're really out of line. You were in nursing school 40 years ago and now you're retired.

Things are bound to have changed.

[focksie]

On 9/12/2014 elruth said:

I thought the Dr she brought with her was a gastro Dr and he was the one who did the surgery. The Dr who did the scope was an ENT. I read that reflux can sometimes cause a raspy voice and that's why her gastro Dr was there. Why he stepped in and used the clinic's tools etc. after the ENT found something that looked questionable is beyond me. I can't imagine Joan didn't sign papers that said if they found anything that they could take a biopsy. Her energy for an 81 yr old was amazing. Sad that she died this way.

Elruth, Dr. Cohen (now the former Medical Director of Yorkville Clinic) is the gastroenterologist who performed the endoscopy. The doc JR brought in is an ENT. He asked if he could use the instruments and performed the unauthorized procedure on JR.

"Friday, September 12, 2014

NEW YORK (WABC) --

Sources tell ABC News that Dr. Lawrence Cohen allowed a specialist unaffiliated with Yorkville Endoscopy to examine comedian Joan Rivers, even though that doctor was not authorized to practice at the clinic. That ear, nose and throat specialist was present at the time of the endoscopy.

A spokesperson for the clinic confirms that Cohen "is not currently performing procedures at Yorkville Endoscopy; nor is he currently serving as medical director."

Yorkville Endoscopy denies that a vocal cord biopsy was performed as stated in some reports, but the clinic does not deny that rivers had an unplanned procedure. About 18,000 procedures have been performed at the clinic since the center opened in February 2013.

Cohen is a gastroenterologist who recently opened a new office just blocks away on Park Avenue. According to the state Department of Health, he has been licensed to practice since 1979. The department is investigating, but neither Cohen nor the ENT specialist has been accused of wrongdoing."

[shoekitty]

On 9/9/2014 Lindsays Grandma said:

I saw an article earlier tonight that Joan had an interview not too long ago and was asked if having so many plastic surgeries scared her and she commented that no, they did not, what scared her was the anesthesia. When I think back about all the surgeries I had there was only one time I said to the doctor, "Make sure I wake up", he laughed and said that is what he was there for, it was his job.

We are now learning that Joan had a heart problem but we won't know for sure what went wrong until all tests have been completed. I miss her already, her energy was contagious. Melissa did her mother proud, what a beautiful service was conducted.

Yes, I read that too. She said she has a heart arrhythmia and had to be really careful

[Shorty2U]

I've been reading updates on Yahoo. It seems there's more news every other day. Hopefully they will get to the bottom of what really happened soon. But so far from what I am reading, I see a lawsuit here. Sadly that wont bring Joan back. But something should be done so this doesn't happen again.