Joan Rivers was supposed to undergo a routine surgical procedure, but that all turned deadly after a doctor, who arrived at the clinic with the comic’s entourage, stepped in and performed an unplanned biopsy on her vocal cords.

The procedure is only to be carried out in a hospital.

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Yorkville Endoscopy, a clinic that usually treats digestive issues, caused Rivers’ vocal chords to seize, cutting off her air supply. “A biopsy like that should only be done in a hospital setting,” the source said. “If she had been in a hospital when it happened, she might have been okay,” the source said. source

 
Rivers’ doctor, who is an ear, nose and throat specialist, asked if he could use their instruments when the clinic’s doctor noticed “something” on Rivers’ vocal chords, according to the source. “He asked and they let him,” the source said. “A huge no-no.”

A representative for Rivers declined to comment. A spokeswoman for Yorkville Endoscopy said she couldn’t comment because of patient confidentiality laws.