Michael Jackson Died Of Propofol Overdose, Says Coroner

Pop king Michael Jackson died of propofol overdose, Los Angeles coroner has ruled. Propofol is a potent anesthesia that should never be found outside a hospital, it is said.

Los Angeles coroner Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran reached that preliminary conclusion after reviewing toxicology results carried out on Jackson's blood,according to a search warrant and affidavit unsealed in Houston, Texas.

The 32-page warrant said Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal physician, told a detective that he had been treating Jackson for insomnia for six weeks. Murray said each night he gave Jackson 50 mg of propofol, also known as Diprivan, diluted with the anesthetic lidocaine via an intravenous drip.

Worried that Jackson may have been becoming addicted to the drug, the Houston cardiologist said he attempted to wean him from it, putting together combinations of other drugs that succeeded in helping Jackson sleep during the two nights prior to his death.

On June 22 Murray said he gave Jackson a cocktail of drugs similar to what he gave him on the day he died, June 25 -- propofol, Ativan and Versed, which helped the star fall asleep, according to the documents. On June 23 he gave Jackson only the Ativan and Versed, which helped him sleep.

The document lists another five doctors and a nurse practitioner who reportedly treated Jackson.

"Detectives ... believe that the miscellaneous prescriptions, from multiple doctors ... could have contributed to his death," the document said.

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"It cannot be determined whether the cause of death is due to the actions of a single night and/or a single doctor, or the grossly negligent treatment of several doctors over an extended period of time."

According to the warrant and affidavit, Murray said he was not the first doctor to give Jackson the powerful anesthetic, which the singer called his "milk." The drug has a milky appearance.

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Jackson also told Murray about two unknown doctors in Germany who gave him propofol, according to documents.

Documents show police found eight bottles of propofol inside Jackson's home.

A search of Murray's doctor bag, which he left at the house the day Jackson died, contained multiple bottles/vials of Lidocaine and several bottles/vials of propofol, Ativan, Versed and Anexate, according to the documents.

The affidavit said a search of Jackson's home revealed "numerous bottles of medications" at Jackson's bedside that were prescribed by Murray and two other physicians -- Dr. Allan Metzger and Dr. Arnold Klein.

Many of the drugs "have an indicated or off label use in the treatment of insomnia," the affidavit said.

Metzger's lawyer told CNN last month that Metzger -- who treated Jackson in 2003 -- refused Jackson's request in April for a propofol prescription.

Klein -- a dermatologist who also was Jackson's longtime friend -- has insisted he never gave Jackson dangerous drugs.

Jackson visited Klein's Beverly Hills, California, medical office just days before his June 25 death.

Murray took the job as Jackson's personal physician in May, as the pop star was preparing for a series of comeback concerts set to begin in July at London's O2 arena.

Jackson visited Klein's Beverly Hills, California, medical office just days before his June 25 death.

Murray took the job as Jackson's personal physician in May, as the pop star was preparing for a series of comeback concerts set to begin in July at London's O2 arena.

The doctor who may face charges over Michael Jackson’s death is under suicide watch by his family and friends.

They are keeping a constant watch on cardiologist Conrad Murray, 55, now a virtual prisoner in his luxury Las Vegas home.

“He can’t come out,” said a neighbour yesterday. “He’s become the most hated man in the world.”

His wife and family who are standing by him, believe he is “on the edge of a breakdown”, said the neighbour.

They fear he may try to take his own life rather than face second-degree murder or manslaughter charges over Jackson’s death.

Source-Medindia
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