Melissa Rivers files lawsuit over Joan Rivers’ death
While Joan Rivers lay sedated in a Manhattan clinic, her doctors performed unauthorized medical procedures, snapped a selfie with the comedian and failed to act as her vital signs deteriorated, according to a malpractice lawsuit filed Monday by her daughter, Melissa.
The 81-year-old comedian and star of “Fashion Police” on E! died Sept. 4, days after she went in for a routine endoscopy at Yorkville Endoscopy on Manhattan’s Upper East Side and stopped breathing.
The lawsuit filed in Manhattan State Supreme Court paints a picture of a careless, cocky staff of doctors who ran roughshod over Rivers while she was unconscious, and it suggests that she died because of their incompetence. The suit seeks unspecified damages.
Melissa Rivers said in a statement that filing the lawsuit was one of the most difficult decisions she had to make.
“What ultimately guided me was my unwavering belief that no family should ever have to go through what my mother, Cooper and I have been through,” she said, referring to her son. “The level of medical mismanagement, incompetency, disrespect and outrageous behavior is shocking and frankly, almost incomprehensible.”
She said her mother deserved better.
The city’s medical examiner found that Joan Rivers died of brain damage due to lack of oxygen after she stopped breathing during the endoscopy. Her death was classified as a therapeutic complication. Negligence was not suspected. Had it been, it would have been listed as a contributing cause.
A statement from Yorkville said it wasn’t appropriate to comment on the lawsuit.
“The Rivers family has, as it has always had, our deepest sympathies and condolences,” the statement said. “The 51 physicians, nurses and staff who currently work at Yorkville remain firmly committed to providing the highest quality of care to their patients.”
Petty earns a credit for Sam Smith hit
Tom Petty has earned a writing credit on Sam Smith’s megahit “Stay With Me” for its similarities to his song “I Won’t Back Down.”
Smith’s representative said Monday the publishers of Petty’s 1989 hit contacted the publishers of Smith’s song, which was one of last year’s biggest hits.
Smith and “Stay With Me” writers James Napier and William Phillips say they agree their song is similar to Petty’s song, written with Jeff Lynne. They call the similarities “a complete coincidence.”
“Stay With Me” has sold more than 3.5 million tracks and is nominated for record and song of the year at next month’s Grammy Awards, among other awards. “Stay With Me” now lists five songwriters, including Petty and Lynne.
The birthday bunch
Actor James Cromwell is 75. Rock musician Nick Mason (Pink Floyd) is 71. Ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov is 67. Actress Mimi Rogers is 59. Actress Bridget Fonda is 51. Actor Alan Cumming is 50.