Posted on 09/10/2014 3:49:35 AM PDT by iowamark
EXCLUSIVE: The late comedian went to Yorkville Endoscopy for a routine endoscopy on Aug. 28, but a doctor — who arrived with Rivers' entourage — offered to perform a biopsy after another doctor noticed 'something' on the entertainer's vocal chords, a medical source told the Daily News.
The routine surgical procedure Joan Rivers was supposed to undergo turned deadly when a doctor who arrived at the clinic with the legendary comic’s entourage performed an unplanned biopsy on her vocal cords, a medical source who was briefed on the case told The News.
Such a procedure is not supposed to be performed outside of a hospital, according to medical experts.
The Aug. 28 biopsy at Yorkville Endoscopy, an E. 93rd St. clinic that usually only deals with digestive issues, caused Rivers' vocal chords to seize — a condition doctors call a laryngospasm — cutting off her air supply, the source said.
“A biopsy like that should only be done in a hospital setting,” the source said.
“If she had been in a hospital when it happened, she might have been okay,” the source said.
Rivers’ doctor — who identified himself as an ear, nose and throat specialist — asked if he could use their instruments when the clinic’s doctor noticed "something" on Rivers’ vocal chords, according to the source.
“He asked and they let him,” the source said. “A huge no-no.”
The source added that the “Fashion Police” star had only signed off on an endoscopy — not the far more dangerous biopsy of her vocal chords...
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
Only a few weeks after calling 0bama a fag and Moochelle a tranny.
Coincidence or chi-town payback?
Looks like this was not Joan’s fault. According to the article, she did not sign off on the biopsy. What a shame. I’m thinking heads will roll, lawsuits, etc.
My intent is not to try to change your mind. We are all big boys and girls. So please take that to heart.
The joint commission is a national board of accreditation that perform inspections at hospitals to ensure that standards are maintained. Those standards apply to all aspects of hospitals. This goes from grading infectious disease control, re-admits, to communication to patients upon discharge.
If those standards are not met the hospitals lose accreditation. That means they are shut down.
The JC issues address hospitals only. Most states (I do not know the numbers, but I know it’s a large majority) do not regulate dr offices or specialized suites. It doesn’t mean they don’t have standards—it means they are not accredited and they do not have to formally report errors, infections, re-admits, etc. so unless you ask, there is probably no one watching.
Of course, if you can prove crappy controls you can legally get them with a malpractice suit. But, the horse is already out of the barn.
My source is my wife who works in a large hospital administration. She has had to become very knowledgeable about this stuff because of the infection reports and other “accountable care” metrics that are being forced on hospitals which will be the basis for reimbursements.
Of course things like chemo treatments are pretty routine and pose a low infection rate or post treatment problems. Of more concern would be the places that do out patient surgery (things like bunion surgery or bladder ablation procedures are two that come to mind). In these cases there is a much higher rate of post op infection and re-admits to the hospitals.
You may recall states limiting abortion clinics to Drs that have “admission” privileges at hospitals. The original purpose of those new rules is to “cover” the hospitals for having to clean up mistakes, post op bleeding, and infections for these pelvic procedures. They were NOT originally set up to limit abortions. It’s just a lot of hospitals will not give those doctors privileges because the post op issues are legion. And those bad marks end up hurting the hospital quality scores, which will impact reimbursement.
So, in the end if you are going to have a procedure with a higher than average risk of post op issues, you should consider the risk/reward of having it done in a surgical center versus in the hospital environment where they have access to support.
Of course everyone needs to make those calls for themselves.
Again, it is a personal issue. My explanation is not intended to do anything but educate. Please do not take it as a comment on your doctor, his place of business, or your choices.
Before she died, Rivers was allegedly "afraid of anesthesia." Perhaps she brought her own doctor to do the biopsy to avoid anesthesia for two separate procedures. This makes sense to me, as I am extremely sensitive to anesthetics and getting more sensitive with age.
Anyway, both of Rivers' physicians agreed to do this deadly twofer -- one doc hardly "forced" his way in. Too bad they couldn't have agreed to do them in the hospital. Both are to blame for things going wrong.
But what, exactly, is cause of death?
I even have to fight for my life with dentists…I need only 1/4 of "dose" they say is necessary to put me under.
Point is, you're the boss. If they give you less than you need, they can very quickly up the dose mid-procedure. Much better than walking -- and driving--around groggy or worse for days afterward.
“Michael Jackson, John Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Steve McQueen, Howard Hughes... Being rich kills. “
—
Don’t forget Elvis.
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Thank you FRiend. The nurse did assure me that they use versaid (sp?) not propofol and that if the nurse asked me something I would be able to respond but I would not remember it. It is being done at an gastro clinic across the street from the hospital. I also have sleep apnea and have been told by the doctor there that I have the smallest of 4 throat sizes. Oh Joy!
A prayer for your procedure, MomwithHope. Be well, stay well:)
Thanks, I’ll write you later tomorrow. Appreciate the prayers.
So what do you call a numbing preparation for the passage way taken orally before an endoscopic *examination* of the stomach?
By the way, the M.D. referred to it as a local anesthetic.
Lawsuit. Who ok’ed this biopsy? If Joan didn’t, did a family member? If no one did, the doctor(s) are at fault.
Chuck Norris lives in Tarzana? I grew up there! Cool.
I have and it damn near put me to sleep.
OK, that’s different I guess, like the old stuff I mentioned. I have never had such a thing in the 2 clinics and some 6x I’ve done it. I’ve only ever been knocked out with an IV, and I’m glad for it! I was scared to death they’d make me stay awake as they did apparently to other victims/patients (including my mother).
I just do not have a problem with the “clinics” (for lack of better term) I've been to for what is really just a scope of the inside. Yes, there are slight risks to going “inside”, but they are slight. They are not for surgery of any kind, although they will take biopsies when they see polyps or erythema. Actually, my husband had a certain something done and that was just a clinic set up in the doctor's offices. Not real risky (it's a local), but still it is technically surgery. So, I guess, was the root canal that I had last year (God awful over several visits - still not sure I trust this dentist as real skilled).
You will be fine. I’ve had at least 6 (lost count), including colonoscopies. They call it “twilight sleep” but frankly, I call it knock-out, because AFAIC I’m asleep. Thank God. Last thing I want is to gag on things down my throat.
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