Dr. Lawrence Cohen, the medical director of Yorkville Endoscopy, was forced out of his post following the now-controversial routine throat procedure that led to Joan Rivers' death.

A representative of the clinic said Dr. Cohen was not currently performing procedures at Yorkville Endoscopy, "nor is he currently serving as medical director."

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An investigation into the death of Rivers, who had visited the endoscopy clinic for a throat procedure, showed that Cohen had allowed the late comedian's personal EENT specialist into the clinic during the procedure, even if the latter did not have any authorization to practice in the clinic.

Rivers was only in the clinic to get an endoscopy to "see why her voice had gotten raspy".

However, Rivers' EENT was said to have performed an unplanned biopsy on her vocal chords, which eventually led to her cardiac arrest. Cohen, a well-respected physician, approved the said procedure without following proper protocol.

According to a source, the said specialist was introduced to clinic staff as an observer and not as a doctor.

Some clinical staff even thought that the specialist was a makeup artist the host-comedian brought along to help her freshen up after the procedure.

Because of the botched procedure and eventual cardiac arrest, Rivers' brain was starved of oxygen. 

The comedian had to be placed in a medically induced coma after being rushed to Mounty Sinai Hospital. Her brain and body had suffered too much trauma, prompting her daughter Melissa to decide to take her off life support on September 4.

An autopsy on Rivers' body proved too inconclusive, so the family has requested more tests to determine the cause of death.

TagsJoan Rivers, Melissa Rivers, Dr. Lawrence Cohen, Yorkville Endoscopy