FDNY: Nearly A Dozen EMS Workers Took Unauthorized Peek At Joan Rivers 911 Records
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- FDNY officials on Friday said nearly a dozen EMS workers looked at 911 emergency records tied to Joan Rivers' death last year, and a few had no legitimate reason to do so.
Those workers may be disciplined, the FDNY said. An EMS workers' union has not immediately responded to an after-hours message about the findings.
Officials said there was no evidence than any EMS workers shared the information, and many workers did have proper cause to view the records.
Rivers died in September of brain damage due to lack of oxygen after she stopped breathing during an endoscopy at a clinic. She was 81.
The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services cited the clinic, Yorkville Endoscopy, for several errors, including failing to identify deteriorating vital signs and provide timely intervention.
The clinic had been ordered by the federal agency to correct problems that had been detected by this past Wednesday, but the compliance date has been postponed.
Negligence was not alleged. Rivers' daughter has hired a malpractice attorney to look into her death.
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