Joan Rivers autopsy completed; further testing needed

ByABC7.com staff KABC logo
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Joan Rivers autopsy done; more testing needed
Joan Rivers autopsy done; more testing neededAn initial autopsy on Joan Rivers has been completed, but the cause of death will not be determined until further testing is done.

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- An initial autopsy on Joan Rivers has been completed, but the cause of death will not be determined until further testing is done.

A publicist for Rivers confirmed to ABC News that the comedian went to Yorkville Endoscopy on Aug. 28 for a diagnostic procedure because she was concerned about a raspiness in her voice.

A 911 call was made at 9:39 a.m., paramedics arrived on scene at 9:46 a.m. and Rivers arrived at Mount Sinai Hospital at 10:08 a.m. on life support. A source told ABC News that her condition at that time was near death.

The 81-year-old Rivers remained on life support until she was pronounced dead at 1:14 p.m. Thursday, ABC News reported.

Yorkville Endoscopy is now under investigation, but at this time, there is no suspicion of wrongdoing, and the investigation was just a matter of protocol.

While the clinic did not address Rivers' death citing HIPAA laws, in a statement, a spokesperson said "Yorkville Endoscopy has performed 18,000 procedures since it opened in February 2013.

"Yorkville Endoscopy has maintained an exceptional safety record that far exceeds the national average," the statement continued. "Yorkville Endoscopy's hospital transfer rate is one patient for every 4,000 procedures."

Her daughter, Melissa Rivers, paused for just a moment to see the flowers fans had left at her door Friday. When a WABC-TV reporter asked what the outpouring has been like, she responded, "Humbling."

Joan Rivers' funeral at Temple Emanuel El in New York City on Sunday will be private, despite Rivers once famously saying she wanted to go out with a "showbiz affair."

PHOTOS: Joan Rivers through the years

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