The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office announced Joan Rivers’ official cause of death on Thursday. As suspected, the comedienne died from complications due to surgery she was having on her throat.
“OCME [Office of the Chief Medical Examiner] has completed its investigation,” spokeswoman Julie Bolcer said in a statement. “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 classification of death as a therapeutic complication means that the death resulted from a predictable complication of medical therapy.”
The Fashion Police host was getting a minor procedure done for acid reflux and suffered from a lack of oxygen, which led to brain damage and ultimately caused her death.
“We continue to be saddened by our tragic loss and grateful for the enormous outpouring of love and support from around the world,” Joan’s daughter, Melissa Rivers, said in a statement. “We have no further comment at this time.”
Joan died at age 81 on Sept. 4
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