Update: Joan Rivers’ Condition Still Serious, Being Brought Out Of Medically Induced Coma -- Reports
Acerbic comedienne Joan Rivers, 81, condition continues to remain serious, according to reports. Joan's daughter Melissa Rivers has said that the family are keeping their "fingers crossed."
New York Daily News is reporting that the doctors have started the procedure to bring Joan out of the medically induced coma. This may take until Tuesday, according to the report. There are concerns that the comedienne may end up in a "vegetable" state or in a "wheelchair."
"There is real concern that the part of the brain that controls motor skills may have been compromised, leaving her as either a vegetable or in a wheelchair," a source close to the family said to New York Daily News.
On Thursday, Joan stopped breathing during a routine procedure to fix her vocal cord at a clinic. She reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest and soon was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. The T.V. presenter and stand-up comic had appeared healthy at an employee event on Wednesday. According to reports, Joan is completely on life support machines and the family may soon have to take a decision to turn off the machines.
Meanwhile, New York Daily News is reporting that the family is considering taking action against the clinic, Yorkville Endoscopy. It was a routine throat procedure that has gone horribly wrong. The source told the news website: "Shock and upset is turning to anger, and they are looking for someone to blame."
"The night before, she was performing and now she is on life support. An 81-year-old should not have that procedure as an outpatient. Very ill-advised," the source said to New York Daily News.
Mail Online has quoted a close friend as saying that just before Joan went for the routine throat surgery, she was joking about "going in for a little procedure."
Melissa, Joan's only child, had flown in from Los Angeles, California, with her son, Cooper, to be at her mother's bedside.