Medical malpractice suit related to Joan Rivers’ death settled

Many Maryland residents will recall the death of famed comedian Joan Rivers. Melissa Rivers, her daughter, recently settled a suit related to medical malpractice with an out-of-state medical clinic regarding her mother’s death. Melissa Rivers sued the clinic where her mother went into cardiac arrest and died in 2014. Besides the clinic, several employees were also named in the suit, which claimed their negligence contributed to her death.

Joan Rivers had gone to the New York clinic to have a routine procedure performed on August 28, 2014. After an unauthorized procedure was performed and a second procedure was underway, the patient’s pulse, blood pressure and oxygen levels had lowered significantly, and, according to court documents, no one took notice. By the time personnel was aware of the patient’s deteriorating vital signs, they fruitlessly attempted to revive her for 10 minutes before realizing that their method would not work due to the patient’s obstructed airway. An emergency procedure was needed, but the only individual who could perform it had already left. Joan Rivers died days later.

Melissa rivers sought an unspecified amount of damages. She says she sued the clinic in hopes that no one else will ever have to experience the same misfortune. She stated that she wants to work on ensuring that there are higher standards of care and safety in out-patient surgical clinics.

When a patient in Maryland suffers a serious injury or death that resulted from the negligence of a health care professional, the victim — or their family — has the legal right to pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit against the party or parties believed to have been negligent. Successfully navigated, this type of claim may result in a monetary judgment for damages sustained, which can help lessen some of the costs that are typically associated with these kinds of injuries or deaths. A medical malpractice victim or their family often begins this process by consulting an experienced personal injury attorney to assess the validity of the victim’s claim.

Source: abcnews.com, “Melissa Rivers Settles Medical Malpractice Suit With Joan Rivers’ Medical Clinic“, Aaron Katersky & Lesley Messer, May 12, 2016