Joan Rivers cause of death might remain a mystery because daughter Melissa Rivers chose not to have an autopsy done, according to a new report.
Rivers, the entertainment legend, died at age 81 on September 4.
Sources connected to the New York City Medical Examiner told TMZ that Melissa told doctors she didn’t want an autopsy performed.
New York law allows such a request to be honored by doctors if there’s no evidence of criminality associated with the death.
The examiner’s office announced this past week that after an investigation it pegged Rivers’ cause of death as “anoxic encephalopathy due to hypoxic arrest during laryngoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with propofol sedation for evaluation of voice changes and gastroesophageal reflux disease.”
That basically means that she died due to lack of oxygen to her brain during the laryngoscopy procedure, noted The Hollywood Reporter.
But TMZ says that “without an autopsy it’s impossible to pinpoint the nature of the problem. As one source said, an autopsy might reveal a puncture in the throat or other trauma.”
Melissa Rivers hasn’t responded to why she didn’t ask for an autopsy, but did release a statement.
“We continue to be saddened by our tragic loss and grateful for the enormous outpouring of love and support from around the world,” she said.
“We have no further comment at this time.”
