Medical director fired over Joan Rivers' surgery

The medical director of Yorkville Endosopy has been fired following the throat surgery that led to comedienne Joan Rivers' death.

Dr Lawrence Cohen resigned after being asked to step down and an investigation is underway, reported ABC News.

"BREAKING: Medical director of Yorkville Endoscopy where #JoanRivers went to cardiac arrest is out. He is no longer performing procedures at the clinic."

Rivers had a cardiac arrest while undergoing an outpatient procedure on her vocal cords on August 28 and was later pronounced dead on September 4 at New York City's Mount Sinai Hospital.

There were reports in the US media that an unplanned throat biopsy led to her untimely death at the age of 81.