Celebrities
Michael Jackson’s Death a Homicide
Posted Aug 24, 2009 2:50 PM CST
By Martha Neil
Developing: After weeks of speculation and media reports based on leaked information, it's now official:
Michael Jackson's death on June 25 was a homicide, caused by a lethal amount of the intravenous anesthetic propofol, reports the Los Angeles Times.
However, the Associated Press, citing an unidentified source, says the Los Angeles coroner's office determined that Jackson's death was caused by a fatal combination of drugs, including propofol and two sedatives, reports the Houston Chronicle.
Although the official autopsy report by the coroner's office has not yet been publicly released, a search warrant affidavit unsealed today in Houston says that it determined homicide to be the cause of the famous pop singer's death on June 25.
A personal physician for Jackson, Dr. Conrad Murray, admitted to Los Angeles police detectives that he administered 25 milligrams of propofol to him the morning of the day he died, the Times reports. According to the article and other media reports, Jackson took this and other medications to help him sleep, although the standard use of propofol is as a fast-acting anesthetic for patients undergoing surgery in a hospital setting.
Drugs that were confiscated in the search of Jackson's home after he died included valium, tamsulosin, lorazepam, temazepam, clonazepam, trazodone and tizanidine, the newspaper recounts.
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: "‘No Idea’ When Jackson Autopsy Will Be Released, as Medical Probe Expands"
ABAJournal.com: "Jackson Doc Releases Video; Fox Says Charge Looming"

Comments
Esq.
Aug 24, 2009 4:19 PM CST
From what I’ve read in other sources, it does seem that there was gross and wanton malpractice by Dr. Murray.
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B. McLeod
Aug 25, 2009 6:21 AM CST
Perhaps he did not know the propofol protocol.
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Esq.
Aug 25, 2009 9:34 AM CST
It goes by the old saying “If you don’t know, you’d better ask somebody.”
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B. McLeod
Aug 26, 2009 11:44 PM CST
Right. Catch 22 there, though. Probably needed a top-of-the-pole anesthesiologist to come anywhere close to safely delivering that combo to a 110-pound, almost-skeletal patient. I doubt they could find one who thought that was a good idea.
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