News just broke that the doctor who performed throat surgery on Joan Rivers has been fired by the Yorkville Endoscopy clinic. Reports surfaced earlier this week that the comedy legend may have received an unauthorized biopsy during the procedure, leading the seizing of her vocal chords – and the following rapid decline that culminated in her death. As talk has been circulating  Rivers’ family is considering a lawsuit, it could be the clinic is trying desperately to decrease their own liability.

TMZ reports that the surgeon in question is Dr. Lawrence Cohen, a renowned gastroenterologist and co-owner of the clinic. He has been on administrative leave since Rivers’ fateful procedure, and sources say the clinic’s board just asked him to step down. The board reportedly does not blame him for the comedian’s death, but feels he acted incorrectly when complications arose in her surgery.

It was reported on Wednesday that while Rivers’ procedure was taking place, doctors discovered something on her vocal chord and decided to perform a biopsy, which sources say should never be done except in a hospital setting. It was reportedly while this was taking place that Rivers stopped breathing, leading to cardiac arrest. A spokesperson for Yorkville said yesterday that the biopsy never happened, but a source connected to the clinic is now saying that it did occur, and that Cohen allowed it.  

Rumors began circulating while Rivers was still in the hospital, that her family may be considering a lawsuit against the clinic. While Radar Online reported immediately following Rivers’ death that her daughter Melissa was “disgusted” by the number of “sleazy” lawyers hoping to cash in on the situation, sources said she had not ruled out the possibility of suing at some point. In addition, TMZ reported last week that the New York Department of Health had begun reviewing the Yorkville, to determine whether to launch an official investigation. Firing the doctor responsible will not absolve the clinic of any possible liability, but the board is more than likely hoping to hedge their bets.