Medical malpractice can happen to anyone

By: Darrell Castle

Selfies are getting out of control. According to Fox News, Joan Rivers’ personal doctor snapped a selfie while the famous comedian was under anesthesia. This took place right before the selfie-taking doctor was going to perform an unauthorized biopsy that allegedly led to Rivers’ fatal cardiac arrest.

A staff member reported the doctor’s behavior to investigators.

There are a few questionable things here in this situation:

1. Why was the doctor performing an unauthorized surgery? What gave him the right? According to CNN, Rivers was at the clinic for an endoscopy performed by Dr. Lawrence Cohen. Once Cohen finished working on Rivers, the unidentified personal physician performed this unauthorized biopsy. Why? What happened there? That should absolutely be investigated.

2. Once we get past why the unauthorized biopsy happened in the first place, it needs to be investigated why Rivers went into cardiac arrest. What went wrong during this biopsy? Was the doctor negligent during the procedure?

3. Lastly, why in the world was the doctor taking a selfie with Joan Rivers as she lay unconscious on the operating bed? Not only is that disturbing and disrespectful, but it’s very unprofessional. It doesn’t matter how routine an operation like this is for a doctor, it shouldn’t be handled in a joking or laid back matter. When you’re about to perform surgery on a living person, you’re putting his or her life at risk. It’s not a time for playing around.

Is this medical malpractice? As a medical malpractice attorney here in Tennessee, I’d take this case.

If Joan Rivers’ family hasn’t already hired an attorney for this – which I assume they already have – then they should. They need an experienced medical malpractice attorney who’ll investigate every little detail of this case and walk and talk them through the process.

If you or a loved one have ever been a victim of medical malpractice, or think you have been, you need to contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney immediately. Don’t let something like this happen to your loved one without seeking justice.

Attorneys can’t bring your loved one back or make up for the pain and suffering, but we can get you financially compensated. It’s not perfect, but it’s what we can do for you and that money will go a long way in helping with medical bills and other costs, as well as restoring a sense of justice.

If this is you, call (901) 327-1212 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced attorney, or fill out one of the contact forms on this page.