The news has been a buzz about the hospitalization of actor/ comedian Joan Rivers. Apparently Ms Rivers was undergoing a simple surgery when she was taken to the hospital because she was not breathing.

In response, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, NBC News’ chief medical editor, discussed the risks of surgery, major or minor on The Today Show:

“Sometimes, the medicine used to sedate someone. The age of which someone is receiving he medications, and sometimes just putting the scope down can trigger and event where a person stops breathing…”, Dr. Nancy Snyderman said, “The really important thing here is that every time you think your are going to have surgery NO MATTER HOW MINOR [ emphasis mine] you have to constantly remind yourself that these things are rare – they can happen. And one more thing I should say, make sure YOUR DOCTOR HAS ADMITTING PRIVILEGES TO THE LOCAL…