Joan And Melissa Rivers
The late Joan Rivers with her daughter Melissa Rivers. Reuters

Melissa Rivers has said she will sue the clinic where her mother Joan Rivers died.

The comedienne stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest during a routine throat surgery at the Yorkville Endoscopy LLC in New York city. She died a week later on September 4.

Last week, the Chief Medical Examiner released results of the investigation into Joan's death. The report stated that she died from brain damage as a result of lack of oxygen, which is described as a 'predictable complication of medical therapy.' The death is therefore being attributed to the risk associated with the surgical procedure.

According to TMZ Melissa is dissatisfied with the findings and has been advised that a lawsuit is the only means by which she can force an enquiry into her mother's death at 81.

A lawsuit would require doctors and other staff at the clinic to take part in depositions and explain under oath, exactly what happened to the late TV personality.

Her decision has also been prompted by reports that the facility was deemed deficient in four major categories required for accreditation following an investigation by the New York State Health Department.

In an October 9 letter to the clinic's director of operations, Tricia Dougherty, the clinic is said to be 'noncompliant in the following four areas: 'governing body and management, surgical services, medical staff and patient rights.'

If it does not correct these problems, it will lose its licence on January 7 of next year.

Without a lawsuit the cause of Joan Rivers' death would remain a mystery since Melissa had prevented doctors from performing an autopsy.

After the cause of death was revealed, Melissa said in a statement: 'We continue to be saddened by our tragic loss and grateful for the enormous outpouring of love and support from around the world."

Stars of stage and screen including Sarah Jessica Parker, Donald Trump and Whoopi Goldberg attended the funeral service which was described as "Hollywood all the way."