Joan Rivers Doctor Accused Of Wrongful John Ritter Death

The doctor who oversaw the operation that led to the death of Joan Rivers had allegedly already been subpoenaed by the family of John Ritter after the actor’s death back in 2003.

Dr. Gwen Korovin, who has been accused of taking a selfie while Rivers was under anesthesia (an accusation that she vehemently denies), was reportedly accused of negligence over her treatment of the 8 Simple Rules star just before he passed because of an aortic dissection.

Korovin is one of the most highly respected ear, nose and throat specialists in the business and in the past she is believed to have treated the likes of Lady Gaga, Hugh Jackman, and Celine Dion. Rivers sought treatment from the doctor and she underwent treatment on her throat last month. But complications arose during surgery that led to Rivers falling into a coma and then dying several days later.

According to In Touch Weekly, it’s now been suggested that. alongside other doctors, Korovin was subpoenaed for her involvement in the John Ritter case. However, she actually avoided being served those papers.

A source for the publication explained, “She, or people close to her, refused to accept service of the subpoena.” The insider then went on the note that Korovin denied ever treating Ritter, and that lawyers didn’t decide to proceed with questioning her and instead simply took her on her word. They then dropped her involvement from the case and decided not to send her another subpoena.

Questions still remain over Korovin’s treatment of Rivers, who went in for surgery on August 28 in a Manhattan clinic. Korovin has already denied that she performed an unauthorized biopsy on the comedienne, while she reacted furiously after a CNN source declared that she had taken a selfie with Joan just before she succumbed to her coma.

However, despite these accusations, numerous other patients who have been treated by Korovin have since rallied around the doctor and insisted that her treatment has been nothing short of exemplary. TMZ have even reported that the doctor has an “unblemished record” and is one of the most dependable in New York.

Ritter died shortly after completing production on the second episode of the second season of 8 Simple Rules. The 54-year-old was misdiagnosed by physicians after he arrived at the hospital, and after being treated for a heart attack his condition worsened before he was finally diagnosed with an aortic dissection. But it was too late, and he died during surgery.

[Images via Best Of New Orleans & TMDB]