Doctor who performed throat procedure on Joan Rivers gets fired

And the drama unfolds. TMZ just broke the news that the doctor who performed the endoscopy on late legendary comedian Joan Rivers at Yorkville Endoscopy, NY, has been fired by the clinic's board.

Dr. Lawrence Cohen stepped down after the board asked him to do so - however, the board isn't directly blaming him for Joan's death..

A rep for the clinic confirmed he was ousted from his position as medical director. According to our sources ... the board's issue with Cohen is that he allowed Joan's doc to step in and perform an unauthorized procedure. Reportedly, that procedure was a biopsy ... and Joan went into respiratory and cardiac arrest while it was being done. Cohen is a world renowned gastroenterologist ... and also co-owner of Yorkville. He's been on administrative leave since Joan's procedure on August 28.

Joan Rivers on life support

Dear Lord, let this woman come out of this alive. According to TMZ, Joan Rivers is on life support and sources close to the legendary comedian say she is completely reliant on machines to stay alive.

"According to our sources, the family will have to decide in the next couple of days whether to keep the 81-year-old on life support. We're told the family remains hopeful that if they do decide to turn off the machines, she will make a turn for the better and fight through it." TMZ reports