Joan Rivers: Official cause of the comedian's death revealed

It has been determined that the controversial comic Joan Rivers died from low blood oxygen during a routine medical procedure.

12:11 17 October 2014

The cause of death of Joan Rivers, who passed away on September 04, has been revealed. A medical examiner has determined that she died from low blood oxygen during a routine medical procedure.

A week before her death, she suffered cardiac arrest during a procedure at a Manhattan clinic to check out voice changes and reflux. She was on life support before she passed away.

A spokeswoman for the city's medical examiner said on Thursday that the 81-year-old star died from "anoxic encephalopathy due to hypoxic arrest or brain damage due to lack of oxygen.”

Negligence is not suspected. Her death was classified as a complication of a medical procedure.

In September, the clinic where Rivers underwent the procedure had denied that they have attempted to conduct a vocal cord biopsy or that they administered a general anaesthetic.

Meanwhile, the star’s daughter Melissa Rivers declined to comment on the medical examination’s rulings.

"We continue to be saddened by our tragic loss and grateful for the enormous outpouring of love and support from around the world," she said in a statement.