Joan Rivers and her daughter Melissa

Joan Rivers and her daughter Melissa

Joan Rivers died from surgical complications.

The former 'Fashion Police' host passed away on September 4 after being placed in a medically-induced coma following minor surgery on her vocal cords on August 28, and her autopsy results have now confirmed her death was caused by lack of oxygen to the brain during the routine operation.

The New York City Medical Examiner's Office released a statement today (16.10.14) stating: "OCME has completed its investigation. The cause of Ms Rivers' death is anoxic encephalopathy due to hypoxic arrest during laryngoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with propofol sedation for evaluation of voice changes and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

"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."

The blonde beauty was undergoing the operation at the private Yorkville Endoscopy in New York City, but was rushed to Mount Sinai hospital after she went into cardiac and respiratory arrest.

Her only daughter, Melissa, thanked the medical team at Mount Sinai following her mother's death.

She said at the time: "My son and I would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of Mount Sinai Hospital for the amazing care they provided for my mother."

Joan was laid to rest in a private service at Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan on September 7.


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