Joan Rivers' Malpractice Suit Settled for Millions

The Joan Rivers malpractice lawsuit has settled for millions of dollars ... TMZ has learned.

Melissa Rivers sued the clinic where Joan Rivers slipped into unconsciousness and never recovered. Melissa sued Yorkville Endoscopy as well as Dr. Gwen Korovin, the doctor who allegedly was not authorized to be in the surgery room and was working on Joan when the emergency occurred.

The settlement came very quickly by legal standards ... it never even reached the deposition stage.

As for the money, our sources would not be specific, but one source insinuated it is in the 8 figures.

You may recall one of the doctors took a cell phone pic of Joan when she was under, which became quite embarrassing for the clinic.

Melissa Rivers says she's happy "those culpable for [Joan's] death have accepted responsibility for their actions quickly and without equivocation." She hopes the lawsuit and settlement will force an elevation of standards in outpatient surgery clinics.