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 It was the first time the Yorkville Endoscopy clinic issued a
statement since Aug. 28, when Rivers was rushed to a nearby
hospital from the center with cardiac arrest.
She died at age 81 on Sept 4.
The clinic did not mention Rivers by name but issued the
statement hours after New York's Daily News newspaper reported
that an unplanned vocal cord biopsy at the clinic had left the
Brooklyn-born comedian unable to breathe.
"A biopsy of the vocal cords has never been performed at
Yorkville Endoscopy," said the clinic, which specializes in
gastrointestinal procedures. "General anesthesia has never been
administered."
The Daily News said Rivers' doctor, who said he was an ear, nose
and throat specialist, asked if he could use the clinic's
instruments when another doctor said he had noticed something on
Rivers' vocal cords, and he was given the go-ahead.
"A biopsy like that should only be done in hospital," the
newspaper quoted the unnamed medical source as saying. "If she
had been in a hospital when it happened, she might have been
OK."
When asked for further comment, Yorkville Endoscopy said it had
nothing more to add.
The cause of Rivers' death is still unknown pending further
tests, according to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
The State Health Department is reviewing documents and medical
records, and interviewing staff and physicians at the clinic,
which opened in February 2013.
"The investigation is ongoing," a department official said on
Wednesday.
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 The clinic said its board-certified anesthesiologists use
light to moderate sedation and monitor the patient continuously
using state-of-the-art equipment. Three to four
anesthesiologists are on duty at any given time.
"Yorkville Endoscopy has strict policies in place for the
criteria of who gets treated in this center versus in a hospital,"
it said, adding it also has all the airway equipment needed for
emergency intubation.
The clinic said every patient is pre-screened by their
gastroenterologist, an anesthesiologist and a nurse before being
treated.
Rivers was known for her brash style, numerous cosmetic procedures
that she joked about in her comedy routines, and the catchphrase,
"Can we talk?"
Her career as a stand-up comedian, author, talk show host and
reality TV star spanned five decades.
On Tuesday evening Broadway theaters dimmed their marquees for one
minute in honor of Rivers, who was nominated for a Tony award in
1994 for "Sally Marr .. and Her Escorts," which she wrote. She also
appeared in two other Broadway shows.
Theater owners reversed an earlier decision not to honor her after
friends and fans launched an online petition.
(Editing by Eric Walsh)
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