Fashion

[elated]

TMZ is reporting the following--update:

We may never know exactly what killed Joan Rivers ... because a decision was made NOT to do an autopsy ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the NYC Medical Examiner tell us ... Melissa Rivers was despondent when Joan died and told doctors she did not want an autopsy performed. According to New York law, doctors will honor such a request if there's no evidence of criminality associated with the death.

The Medical Examiner has concluded the cause of death was deprivation of oxygen which caused irreversible brain damage. We're told they determined the "predictable" complication involved the procedure itself and not Propofol.

Here's the problem ... we're told without an autopsy it's impossible to pinpoint the nature of the problem. As one source said, an autopsy might reveal a puncture in the throat or other trauma.

The only way Joan's family might get a definitive answer is if a doctor or nurse owns up to a possible mistake ... and even then it's just someone's word.

So the precise cause of Joan's death may forever stay a mystery

Read more: http://www.tmz.com#ixzz3GcmmayQG

[Madisson]

Too bad that a real autopsy was not performed. Here is what I found online about the law in the State of New York regarding religious objection to autopsy...courtesy of Montereytrust.com:

What About Religious Belief or Cyrogenic Freezing?

Some people may have an objection to autopsy due to religious belief or, as is becoming more and more popular today, some may want to be cryogenically frozen for resurrection at a later time. If the Coroner or Medical Examiner requires that an autopsy be performed, this may undermine arrangements made with regard to cryogenic freezing. Younger decedents are particularly at risk of autopsy since death at a young age is most likely to be the result of an accident, homicide, or sudden unexplained illness.

Some state legislators (California being one of those States) have moved toward restricting the power of the state to demand an autopsy. One statute which has been passed in at least five states (California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio) is the "Religious Objection to Autopsy." Simply, it gives people the right to attempt to prevent an autopsy of their remains by signing a certificate declaring that autopsy is contrary to their "religious belief." (A person completing such a form is not required to state what his/her religion is.)

"In states that have passed a religious objection law, this form may be the most effective way to prevent autopsies and to limit the scope of those which are performed. If you or your family objects strongly to autopsy due to religious or other reasons, you may consider executing the California Certificate of Religious Belief attached. Remember, with this form as with all legal documents, work with your attorney to make sure it fits into your overall estate planning.

Keep in mind that the Coroner or Medical Examiner will not request an autopsy unless there is a clear and convincing reason for them to do so. If you execute a Certificate as mentioned above, you may be losing an opportunity for your family to benefit from the knowledge of a clearly diagnosed medical issue that may be hereditary or you may be “burying” evidence of some wrongdoing that would have otherwise been discovered and possibly prosecuted."

[crillon]

On 10/19/2014 ssssgirl said:

On 10/18/2014 crillon said:

On 10/17/2014 blossompie said:

On 10/17/2014 ibb38 said:

Joan did have an autopsy- the results were inconclusive. Jewish custom [I imagine] didn't concern her since she was cremated.

Hmmmm I read an autopsy was performed before cremation. When somebody suddenly dies and there's an investigation it's the law that it must be done

According to ABC News, an autopsy was not performed:

A person briefed on the Rivers investigation said an autopsy was not performed on Joan Rivers at the instruction of the family and in accordance with Jewish law. Instead, the report was based on a noninvasive physical examination and a thorough review of her charts from Yorkville Endoscopy, where she was undergoing her procedure, as well as her medical history.

As a result, the report from the medical examiner's office does not explain what caused the sudden lack of oxygen. No additional information will be released by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, citing New York state law.

This is WRONG. It is a LAW that all deaths involving surgery become an ME's case and an autopsy is done. I have worked in surgery my whole adult life and know this for FACT. Melissa or any other family DOES NOT have a say in it. It is done ISO they can find out what happened. Do not believe "sources"

Believe what you want, but the fact is Joan Rivers did not have an autopsy. Multiple reliable sources in the media are reporting it, which is the reason the medical examiners can't say WHY she stopped breathing. Had they done an autopsy, they likely would know the exact cause of the respiratory arrest, which triggered the cardiac arrest.

[Black Cat Back]

I don't understand why they didn't want an autopsy. Didn't Joan get cremated? I'm Jewish and the Jewish religion is against cremation. So, I'm not sure why an autopsy wasn't done if cremation was okay, as I've not heard of that being a religious issue.

[elated]

TMZ IS REPORTING THE FOLLOWING:

Melissa Rivers will sue the medical center where Joan died and the doctors as well because it's the only way she can find out what really happened to her mom.

Sources connected to the Rivers family tell TMZ ... after the New York Dept. of Health and Human Services came out with its findings that Yorkville Endoscopy LLC was "deficient" in surgical services and medical staff ... Melissa tried to find out the root of the problems and if they caused her mom's death, but she was shut down.

We're told Melissa got advice from her lawyers ... the only way to know precisely what happened is to file a lawsuit, which entitles her to force doctors and facility staff to sit for sworn depositions and answer questions about what happened the day Joan stopped breathing.

Melissa, we're told, is frustrated because it's apparent the facility and the Dept. of Health know exactly what happened, so her only recourse is court

Read more: http://www.tmz.com#ixzz3H04skVcq

[ValuSkr]

It's nice to finally have closure on this.

[perryp]

On 10/16/2014 ssssgirl said:

On 10/16/2014 turtle52 said:

On 10/16/2014 ssssgirl said:

"therapeutic complications NOT "predictable!"

BOTH words were used in the report. Can YOU read????

guess not in this istance, only read the post. WOW! were you REALLY that offended?

I wondered that as well...?

[perryp]

On 10/16/2014 shoekitty said:

OMG shoekitty!!! Thanks for this