Joan Rivers’ throat surgery doctor DID take photos in operating room

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Dr Lawrence Cohen is accused of taking pictures of Joan Rivers as she underwent throat surgery at New York's Yorkville Endoscopy last August
He has denied capturing images of colleague working on the sedated star - but has refused to submit testimony under oath regarding the allegations
Now, court papers show the doctor did actually snap Rivers at the clinic
Anesthesiologist who was present for surgery admits photos were taken
The clinic's director also 'wrote in letter to Rivers's daughter, Melissa, 47, that several employees had told him Cohen had photographed her mom'
Rivers, 81, went into cardiac arrest during surgery, and died a week later
Another doctor is accused of taking 'selfie' of star in the operating room

Published: 08:57 EST, 15 July 2015 | Updated: 10:56 EST, 15 July 2015

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The doctor in charge of the endoscopy that led to Joan Rivers's death last year did take photos of the sedated comedian in the operating room - despite his denial, new court papers reveal.

Dr Lawrence Cohen is accused in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit of taking snapshots of Rivers as she underwent the botched throat surgery at Yorkville Endoscopy in Manhattan, New York, in August.

He has denied capturing images of Rivers's personal doctor, Dr Gwen Korovin, working on the star, while Korovin has lashed out at claims she took a 'selfie' with her client during the procedure.

But now, court documents show that Cohen did actually photograph Rivers at the clinic, where the 81-year-old comedian suffered a cardiac arrest and fell into a coma, from which she never awoke.

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Allegations: Dr Lawrence Cohen (right) is accused in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit of taking snapshots of Joan Rivers (left) as she underwent an endoscopy at Yorkville Endoscopy in Manhattan, New York, last August

Clinic: Cohen has denied capturing images of Rivers's personal doctor, Dr Gwen Korovin, working on the comedian. However, new court papers show that Cohen did actually photograph Rivers at the clinic (above)

According to the papers, obtained by the New York Daily News, anesthesiologist Dr Renuka Bankulla, who was involved in the surgery, admitted in medical records that photos were taken.

And interestingly, despite Cohen's denial that he captured images of Rivers on his cellphone, the doctor has refused to submit testimony under oath regarding the claims, the documents show.

'Notably, despite Dr. Bankulla’s clear statement in the medical records that Dr Cohen took a photograph of Joan Rivers while she was unconscious during the procedure, Dr Cohen’s unverified response ... denies this fact,' say the documents on Rivers's death, filed in court on Tuesday.

According to lawyers for Rivers's daughter Melissa - who is behind the lawsuit against Yorkville Endonscopy - the clinic's director has also provided evidence that Cohen took photos of Rivers.

Director Daniel Adler reportedly admitted in a letter to Melissa Rivers, 47, last October that several employees who were present during the surgery had told him Cohen had photographed her mother.

Melissa Rivers's lawyers claim that the gastroenterologis took the images on his cellphone because he believed Rivers would like to see them after she awoke from the routine throat procedure.

However, the star fell into a coma and died a week after the operation.

Lawsuit: According to lawyers for Melissa Rivers (pictured, right, with her mother) - who launched the lawsuit against Yorkville Endoscopy in January - the clinic's director has provided evidence that Cohen took photos

Denial: Korovin (pictured last September) has lashed out at claims she took a 'selfie' with her sedated client

Melissa Rivers opens up about her mothers death

The attorneys are now requesting that Cohen has to provide a sworn answer to the allegations.

'The conduct is unfortunately outrageous,' said one of Melissa Rivers's lawyers, Ben Rubinowitz. 'You have a situation where doctors are taking photos of a patient when she needed assistance.'

The papers acquired by the New York Daily News were based on records from the medical examiner, a federal regulatory agency and the clinic itself, situated in the Upper East Side.

There was apparently no mention of the 'selfie' allegations against Korovin.

In her lawsuit, Melissa Rivers claims that Cohen, Korovin, 56, and other doctors involved in her mother's August 28 surgery acted negligently and recklessly, leading to the comedian's death.

Dr Bankulla's clear statement in the medical records [says] that Dr Cohen took a photograph of Joan Rivers while she was unconscious during the procedure

Melissa Rivers, via her lawyers

The suit alleges that Korovin - the 'throat specialist to the stars' - was in the room at the time, despite not being authorized to be so, and even took a 'selfie' with sedated Rivers.

It also states that Korovin 'did not object to the defendant Cohen' taking photos of the star.

Korovin has denied the photo allegations, saying she 'was unaware of any pictures being taken' during the surgery, according to court papers, previously obtained by the News.

She 'categorically denies' the 'selfie' allegation in particular,CNN reported. But she has reportedly admitted that Cohen 'invited' her to operate on Rivers on the fateful day - and no one objected.

Korovin, who counts Hugh Jackman, Julie Andrews, Lady Gaga, and Ariana Grande among her celebrity patients, is an esteemed ear, nose and throat specialist based in Manhattan.

She has even been involved in a documentary with singer Celine Dion.

Following Rivers's death, the ENT was said to be 'devastated' and 'unable to sleep' over the reports that she was involved in the death of her client, whom she considered 'family', Radar reported.

The botched surgery on August 28 was intended to help diagnose Rivers's hoarse voice and sore throat, and involved the insertion of a camera down her throat.

Famous clientele: Korovin, who was reportedly in the room when Rivers underwent her fatal throat biopsy, appeared in a 2010 Celine Dion documentary. Above, the doctor (left) examines Dion's throat (right)

Joan Rivers throat specialist in Celine Dion documentary

The lawsuit alleges that Rivers's doctors did not act properly when the star deteriorated in the operating room. Their malpractice resulted in Rivers not receiving enough oxygen, it is said.

After Rivers - who rose to fame on The Tonight Show and starred with her daughter on the E! show Fashion Police - went into cardiac arrest, she was rushed to the nearby Mount Sinai Hospital.

She died of brain damage on September 4.

'The level of medical mismanagement, incompetency, disrespect and outrageous behavior is shocking and frankly, almost incomprehensible,' said Melissa Rivers, according to USA Today.

'They didn't recognize the fact that she wasn't getting sufficient oxygen,' Rubinowitz added.

Cohen recently resigned after allegedly allowing Korovin to perform on Rivers without authorization.

He has denied the malpractice allegations.

The lawsuit was filed in January.