The Yorkville Endoscopy clinic issued a statement that contested the claims that comedy icon Joan Rivers died of cardiac and respiratory arrest while undergoing a throat procedure in the clinic.

The clinic issued a statement early Thursday saying that no biopsy of the comedienne's vocal cords had been performed.

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This is the first time that the facility issued a statement since Rivers died Sept. 4.

The 81-year-old Fashion Police host passed away in New York's Mount Sinai Hospital.

She was rushed to the hospital August 28 after medical practitioners tried to perform a minor operation on her vocal cords. The exact details of the throat procedure still remains unknown.

The star had been in critical condition since that day, and was on life support for over a week until her death.

Medical privacy prevents the media from getting all the details about what happened before she was brought to the hospital. It is believed that the doctors could have used endoscopy to check her vocal cords and diagnose the underlying factors why her voice was raspy.

Medical experts point out that there are risks linked with performing this procedure, which is usually performed with a general anesthetician on duty. Among the possible risks include cardiorespiratory complications, such as spasm of the airways.

In its statement, the clinic believes that Rivers may not have been placed under general anesthesia. "General anesthesia has never been administered at Yorkville Endoscopy... The type of sedation used at Yorkville Endoscopy is monitored anesthesia care. Our anesthesiologists utilize light to moderate sedation," the statement said.

The clinic further stated that a team of board-certified anesthesiologists were always on call each time a patient is under endoscope. Furthermore, "state-of-the-art monitoring" tools are used, which are placed at the patient's bedside in the duration of the procedure.

Meanwhile, New York State Health Department is still conducting an investigation with regards to the comedian's death. Inquiries with the clinic's staff are still ongoing.

TagsJoan Rivers, Endoscopy clinic