Michael Jackson: Recent medical screening 'declared him healthy'
Those close to Michael Jackson say he had been working diligently to get back in shape for his planned comeback next month in London.
A year ago, he was gaunt and using a wheelchair, but in preparation for a 50-show run in London, he was exercising with a trainer in addition to daylong rehearsals with dancers half his age. He also was a strict vegetarian.
“He’s working out. He’s in great shape,” his manager, Frank Dileo, said last month.
In order for concert promoters to get insurance for the concerts, which were scheduled to begin July 13, Jackson underwent a four-hour physical in Los Angele this spring with an independent doctor flown in from New York.
Rand Phillips, the chief executive officer of promoter AEG Live, said in an interview last month that the medical screening uncovered “no issues whatsoever.”
“He declared him healthy,” Phillips said. “His cholesterol level is better than mine.”
But a physical may not have revealed a looming heart attack, Dr. John Harold, a Cedars-Sinai Medical Center cardiologist, said.
“This is the type of patient who could have a stress test the day before and it could be completely normal and the next day could have a plaque rupture and a fatal heart attack,” said Harold, who did not treat Jackson.
-- Harriet Ryan
I lOVE YOU MICHAEL AND AM DEEPLY SORROWFUL OVER LOSING YOU. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE THROUGHOUT ETERNITY.
Posted by: ELISE | June 25, 2009 at 04:49 PM
Let's just ask the real question. What killied Michael Jackson? I want a toxicology report! Now!!!
Posted by: Alexandra Datig | June 25, 2009 at 05:14 PM
Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, and now Michael Jackson. This is how it is meant to be.
Sometimes the soul just needs to sleep. RIP.
Posted by: FX Higgins | June 25, 2009 at 05:14 PM
you were and allways will be a legend , the best. everyone in the world knew you. god bless u , rest in peace , and i hope those who were quick to condemn you , dont be 2 faced ...
you were loved by millions and u will allways be with us..
the best entertainer evr......rip.
january rees..
Posted by: january | June 25, 2009 at 05:17 PM
Wow, I'm very sorry to hear this. Rest in Peace Michael. I hope you have found peace.
Posted by: Brent | June 25, 2009 at 05:21 PM
Shows you the lack of value of medical screening exams.
Posted by: Frank | June 25, 2009 at 05:24 PM
Wow, that's interesting. He had lowish cholesterol and no signs of heart trouble. I was just reading the other day about an alternative hypothesis for heart attacks that says they're actually something like the lactic acid buildup you get in your legs when you run, only the heart can't stop and take a rest. The article I read said that in a lot of these cases there actually are no plaques that "rupture," and that the longer it takes for the heart attack victim to die, the more clots they find afterward--that it's inflammatory debris that blocks things up after the fact, not fatty deposits that cause it beforehand.
Jackson was a "strict vegetarian" and if this alternative hypothesis bears out, I'm going to guess he wasn't getting enough of the building blocks he needed to make the cardiotonics every human body makes to protect the heart against lactic acid buildup. Couple that with the incredible stress he's dealt with over the past I don't know how long, so you've got probable small-vessel damage leading into the heart as well, which means a diminished oxygen supply. A cardiac stress test doesn't put the body under the same kind of stress that real-life shocks tend to do. Who knows what was going on with him when he collapsed but given his penchant for attracting drama, it could have been anything.
Poor guy. I wish he could have had a better life. He's probably a lot happier wherever he is.
Posted by: Dana | June 25, 2009 at 05:27 PM
it wasn't a heart attack, it was cardiac arrest
Posted by: Monique | June 25, 2009 at 05:33 PM
MICHAEL JACKSON YOU WILL TRULY BE MISSED. NO ONE CAN EVER REPLACE YOUR MUSIC AND DANCING. YOUR "THRILLER" VIDEO SET THE PRECEDENT FOR ALL OF THE OTHERS THAT FOLLOWED. I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE IT. YOU LEFT US WAY TOO SOON. LIFE IS SO UNFAIR. HEAVEN MUST HAVE NEEDED YOU MORE THAN US EARTHLINGS. ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT SAID THOSE AWFUL, UNTRUTHFUL THINGS ABOUT YOU. I CAN'T STOP CRYING. YOUR CONCERT IN HEAVEN WILL DEFINITELY BE STANDING ROOM ONLY. MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO YOUR FAMILY. REST IN EVERLASTING PEACE.
Posted by: S | June 25, 2009 at 05:36 PM
Missing you already. My love goes to his children and family. The world will never be the same. There was always (we hoped) a piece of ourselves in him
Good night Michael no more suffering
Posted by: VIRGINIA SWAN | June 25, 2009 at 05:43 PM
"Shows you the lack of value of medical screening exams."
How is there a lack of values in the medical screening exams? They're a set of procedures the patient goes through..its not a magic 8-ball? IM sure the Dr didnt 'intentionally' say all was good when it wasn't. But im sure everything youve written up or reported on was dead on eh?
Posted by: MB | June 25, 2009 at 05:52 PM
Rip michael jackson & farrah fawcett i may b young but trust me i kno bout dem n dey gone b truly missed
~RIP Michael Jackson~
~RIP Farrah Fawcett~
Their n a betta place now & god has betta plans 4 dem, no mo suffering!
RIP: Rest In Peace 2 both of dem!!
Try 2 live life 2 da fullest while u can cuz ur life cn be taken just like theirs!!
Dis gud info listen 2 me cuz i lost a 5 yr old cuzn 2 congested heart failure n that hurt me very much , but dis is sum serious stuff!! Im only 13 but i kno wat hurts & wat dnt, im still learnin but i kno a lot!! Duces!!
Posted by: Dere'Sika | June 25, 2009 at 05:54 PM
I mean he was a great artist and that will never be taken away. Im sure it was mainly attributed to the pressures of life, his documented addiction and such. He was a a true artist and that will never be taken away. Some people just die earlier than they should, it's sad but its life right?
Posted by: MB | June 25, 2009 at 05:55 PM
Oh Michael,
Thank You for All the Great Years of Music you gave us!
You will be Remembered Always. Our Thoughts and Prayers are with You and your family. Rest in Peace, Michael
Posted by: Denise | June 25, 2009 at 06:08 PM
Thanks for the music Micheal
God Bless and Rest in Peace
Our prayers go out to your family
Posted by: Marion O'Connell | June 25, 2009 at 06:29 PM
WOW! Lets get the name of the NY Doctor, so we can avoid him or her, at all cost
Posted by: Jim, Beverly Hills | June 25, 2009 at 06:46 PM
Thank You!
Michael Jackson.
for years of wonderful , Happy, inspiring music.
May GOD Bless your soul.
We have prayed for you & your family.
We are sadden by your death.
And we are rejoice that you have gone home to be with GOD.
It is a better place then here on earth.
We all will see you when we get to Heaven.
We know that you are truly happy now.
We all here would like to say ALOHA .
Posted by: MOCA JOES INTERNET & GAMING | June 25, 2009 at 06:48 PM
I wish you peace Michael where ever you are, you were the best ambassador of the pop to whole globe.
Posted by: Sam | June 25, 2009 at 06:56 PM
Dana's comment was interesting. Perhaps that is why the French, who are known for their high colesterol diet, do not get heart attacks. But all the same, if it is lactic acid, rathr than fatty deposits, what could Michael have done to prevent them. It seems that he excercised quite a lot. Stress is difficult to avoid.
Posted by: Tim | June 25, 2009 at 07:13 PM
YOU WERE THE GREATEST FROM 1974 TO 1983!
BUT, REGARDLESS YOUR TALENT, YOU OWE A LOT TO QUINCY JONES.
GOD BLESS BOTH GENIUS OF MUSIC!
Posted by: Brazillian Fan | June 25, 2009 at 07:14 PM
You will be missed MJ hmmm guys also add your prayer to his prayer site www.25thJune.com
Posted by: Johnny | June 25, 2009 at 07:15 PM
Seems a little odd that his heart just stopped right before he was to have his big comeback. I really hope they do a thorough autopsy by the book, toxicology and everything else, because there's going to be hoards of conspiracy theorists already starting their books on why MJ was murdered, and how this or that wasn't done or done correctly, etc. etc.
Posted by: Cyndi Cynic | June 25, 2009 at 07:37 PM
This is from your family from Gary,In.our hearts goes out to the entire family.Iwas just in Gary last week and decided to stop by the house on Jackson,It was an honor.We will truly miss MICHAEL AND WILL HAVE THE REST OF THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY IN OUR PRAYERS.Michael will never leave our hearts.We always were true believers of him.Love always the Brim family.
Posted by: tiwana brim | June 25, 2009 at 07:38 PM
RIP Michael.I hope there are lots of little children in heaven to make you happy.
Posted by: Joe | June 25, 2009 at 07:47 PM
FX HIggins you make a good point. The earth plane is a school. And when it is our time, it is our time. Bless both Michael and Farrah on their soul's journeys.
Posted by: FatNSassy | June 25, 2009 at 07:54 PM
i know many times through out your life you would have felt alone but im sure i speak for thousands when i say "YOU ARE NOT ALONE" even in death RIP XXXOOO
Posted by: darlene | June 25, 2009 at 08:00 PM
When I was in basic training for the U.S. Air Force, We were allowed to go into the day room and watch the 'Thriller' video which had just been released. Normally that would've been an unheard of privilege for military trainees. But MJ always managed to make the world notice him, Even military training instructors.
He was one of the most brilliant performers the world will ever see. Such a sad day. My prayers to his family, especially his children. <3
Posted by: Suzie | June 25, 2009 at 08:48 PM
I hope that his wonderful 3-D film 'Captain EO' will now be released so the whole world can see it.
Posted by: Sandra Laythorpe | June 26, 2009 at 02:11 AM
RIP Michael.
Posted by: Avinash Machado | June 26, 2009 at 06:19 AM
I read where a lawyer said that he was taking lots of medications. That could do it. That is why they pulled Vioxx after they had millions of people using it.
Posted by: Chuck | June 26, 2009 at 07:32 PM
If MJ was on so many drugs and receiving shots of opiates for the last 7 years, he could NEVER have passed his insurance physicals for performing in the UK in July. And he was booked to perform! I believe the rumors of drug abuse are as fake as the rumors of molestation. This is what the ignorant world thrives on - lies and deceit. This is what killed this poor man, NOT DRUGS! YOU!!
Posted by: r lanzarishi | June 28, 2009 at 09:17 AM
i completely agree with r lanzarishi i wish people would stop saying that molested children even after his death. even if you do believe that keep it to yourselfi wish people whould shed light on how he has helped people not only with music but by his philanthropy.he was a true angel that was living with us.it must of hurt him deeply when people called him ugly crazy and a molester since he is extremely sensitive. people can be so cruel sometimes.i left with nothing but to hope that he is in a better place, but then again when people treat you like trash constantly maybe anywhere is better than here .may god bless his family children and his fans because nobody knows but ourselves how much we are suffering for this untimely death. rest in peace dear michael because you were truly loved and admired by many people.your death was not in vain
Posted by: sandy | June 30, 2009 at 11:04 AM