The clinic where Joan Rivers was undergoing an outpatient procedure prior to her hospitalization and death is now being investigated by the New York State Health Department, though a source said that wrongdoing is not being suspected. Although a source said that the clinic is not suspected of wrongdoing, a sensational claim by RadarOnline states that Rivers might have been given the same drug that killed Michael Jackson when she went into cardiac arrest.
A "full investigation" has been opened into Yorkville Endoscopy Center in New York City to determine whether the clinic would be cited for violations, The New York State Health Department told ABC News. The clinic has said it is cooperating fully.
Although spokesman James O'Hare said Thursday that the department is looking into "the whole matter," he declined to discuss specifics on the case.
But as of now, there is no suspicion of wrongdoing and the investigation is routine, a source briefed on the case told ABC News.
The investigation was triggered after the 81-year-old comic and red carpet commentator had to be hospitalized last week after going into cardiac arrest at a doctor's office while undergoing a procedure on her throat at an outpatient clinic, the source added. She then slipped into coma and never regained consciousness, eventually dying on Thursday.
However, RadarOnline reported Friday that Rivers might have been given Propofol, which is often used as an anesthetic for simple medical procedures.
"It is the same drug that gained infamy after it was revealed that the King of Pop died after taking a cocktail of drugs that included Propofol," UK MailOnline reported.
"But at this point, there is not enough available information to accuse Joan Rivers' doctors of malpractice, but when the evidence is examined in the coming weeks, the debate will focus on the formal legal definition of negligence," Heather Hanson said. (For more on this point, read HNGN's own Heather Hansen's legal opinion here).
Meanwhile, investigators have already visited the clinic. "There are certain types of incidents that must be reported to the state and the events surrounding Rivers' emergency was one of those, though health officials declined to elaborate what specifically triggered the investigation," according to ABC News.
"HIPAA laws prevent us from disclosing any information about patients. In the event of an adverse incident, Yorkville Endoscopy would promptly report to appropriate government and regulatory agencies and would proactively cooperate with any governmental review," the clinic said in a statement on Friday.
Yorkville Endoscopy was established in 2013 and was inspected by the State Health Department prior to opening. To date, there have been no complaints or violations regarding the facility.
A woman who answered the phone at the clinic Thursday told ABC News the clinic had no comment.
