NBC Doctor: Joan Rivers Underlines Importance of Hospital Admitting Privileges

NBC's Dr. Nancy Snyderman: Joan Rivers Emergency Underlines Importance of Hospital Admitting Privileges (NewsBusters)

Comedienne Joan Rivers remains in critical condition today after going into respiratory and cardiac arrest August 29 during what has been described as a “routine throat procedure,” a “minor procedure,” and “outpatient surgery.”

Rivers was rushed by ambulance from Yorkville Endoscopy to Mount Sinai Hospital, located nine blocks apart.

We pray the 81-year-old is restored to health, although there are concerns “the part of the brain that controls motor skills may have been compromised, leaving her as either a vegetable or in a wheelchair,” according to the New York Daily News, in which case Rivers allegedly “would not want to live unless she could enjoy ‘a full and active life’” because she “would not want to be a burden on anyone” – a topic for another post.

What connects this to the abortion issue is what NBC News’ chief medical editor, Dr. Nancy Snyderman (pictured below right), said we could learn from this tragedy on the August 29 Today show.