Late Joan Rivers' cause of death confirmed

One month on from her passing, a cause of death for Joan Rivers has been confirmed.

The 81-year-old Fashion Police presenter died as a result of complication during surgery that caused her brain to be starved of oxygen.

In an official statement, Julie Bolcer of the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office said: ‘OCME [Office of Chief Medical Examiner] has completed its investigation. The cause of Ms Rivers’ death is anoxic encephalopathy [brain damage due to lack of oxygen] due to hypoxic arrest during laryngoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with Propofol sedation for evaluation of voice changes and gastroesophageal reflux disease.


Adding: ‘The manner of death is therapeutic complication. The classification of a death as a therapeutic complication means that the death resulted from a predictable complication of medical therapy.’

Joan with doting daughter Melissa

The acerbic comedian’s daughter, Melissa Rivers issued a response to the medical examiner’s findings: ‘We continue to be saddened by our tragic loss and grateful for the enormous outpouring of love and support from around the world.’

Rivers is also survived by a grandson, Edgar Cooper Endicott – known by his middle name.