The daughter of 81-year-old comedian Joan Rivers has confirmed her mother, who was hospitalised last week after a heart attack during a surgical procedure, is on life support.
"At this time she does remain on life support," Melissa Rivers said in a statement. "On behalf of my mother and our family, we are extremely grateful for all the love and support we've received."
"I know my mother would be overwhelmed by the continued outpouring of kindness and I want to thank everyone for keeping us in their prayers."
Rivers was taken from Yorkville Endoscopy Clinic to New York's Mount Sinai Hospital in an ambulance last week after she suffered cardiac arrest and stopped breathing during a routine procedure.
She arrived at the hospital in critical condition but was later upgraded to stable.
She was placed in a medically-induced coma on the weekend. According to reports she was due to be brought of that coma today.
The New York Daily News reported that doctors began bringing Rivers out of the medically-induced coma on Monday, Australian time.
They were hoping to assess her brain function by Wednesday, Australian time.
Rivers' daughter Melissa and grandson Cooper are by the veteran comedian's side, according to reports.
The US entertainment website E! quoted a source "close to the situation" saying that Rivers was on the road to recovery.
"She's getting better; don't believe all this ridiculous speculation," the source said.
Rivers' show, Fashion Police, airs on the E! network.
Plans for a special edition of the program, timed to co-incide with New York Fashion Week, has been cancelled. The special was to have been taped in New York this week.
Another US entertainment website, TMZ, has reported that the family must decide whether to keep the comedy legend on life support this week.
"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," the source told TMZ.
