Michael Jackson's personal doctor administered propofol -- a powerful anesthetic -- to help Jackson sleep, and authorities believe the drug killed him, a law enforcement official told the AP today.  Story here.

The official -- who spoke anonymously because the investigation is still ongoing -- said Jackson regularly received propofol to sleep, relying on the drug like an alarm clock. A doctor would administer it when he went to sleep, then stop the intravenous drip when he wanted to wake up. On June 25, the day Jackson died, Dr. Conrad Murray -- a cardiologist who was serving as Jackson's personal physician -- gave him the drug through an IV sometime after midnight, the official said.

Although toxicology reports are pending, investigators are working under the theory that propofol caused Jackson's heart to stop, the official said.  Jackson is believed to have been using the drug for about two years and investigators are trying to determine how many other doctors administered it, the official said.

The official said that when police arrived on the scene shortly after Jackson's death, they found propofol and other drugs in Jackson's home.  An IV line and three tanks of oxygen were in the room where Jackson slept; 15 more oxygen tanks were in a security guard's shack.

Propofol can depress breathing, lower the heart rate, and lower blood pressure.  Because of the risks, propofol is only supposed to be administered in medical settings by trained personnel.  Instructions on the drug's package warn that patients must be continuously monitored, and that equipment to maintain breathing, provide artificial ventilation, and administer oxygen if needed "must be immediately available."

Dr. Zeev Kain -- who heads the anesthesiology department at UC Irvine Medical Center -- said he has never encountered a situation where propofol was given in a home to help someone sleep.  His professional opinion is that prescribing/administering propfol at home to help someone sleep would constitute malpractice.

So this is huge.  I knew Jackson's death would turn out to be related to meds inappropriately prescribed and administered.  It's the Elvis Presley scenario all over again.

It's not clear whether Dr. Murray is a suspect in the investigation, which is now a criminal investigation.  Jackson had been taking propofol for two years, so it's suspected that other prescribing/administering physicians and/or health care providers are involved.

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Merope
Beliefnet Community Host
Hot Topics Zone

So what he/it is dead. He/it didnt do a thing to better my life. he/it never paid a bill for me. His/it's life is no more important than any other person alive today. I cant wait untill I can turn on tv and not here that sickos name.