'Lethal levels' of anesthetic propofol killed Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson died of "lethal levels" of the powerful anesthetic propofol, according to a search warrant affidavit unsealed today in Houston.

The court documents quote the L.A. County coroner's office as reaching that conclusion after an autopsy of the pop star.

The documents address one of the major unanswered questions surrounding Jackson's death. But they also raise new questions about how Jackson was treated, particularly in the hours before his death.

Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal doctor, told detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department that he had been treating Jackson for insomnia for about six weeks. He had been giving Jackson 50 milligrams of propofol every night using an intravenous line, according to the court records.

But Murray told detectives that he feared Jackson was forming an addiction and began trying to wean the pop star off the drugs. He lowered the dosage to 25 milligrams and mixed it with two other sedatives, lorazepam and midazolam. On June 23, two days before Jackson's death, he administered those two medications and withheld the propofol.

On the morning Jackson died, Murray tried to induce sleep without using propofol, according to the affidavit. He said he gave Jackson valium at 1:30 a.m. When that didn't work, he said, he injected lorazepam intravenously at 2 a.m. At 3 a.m., when Jackson was still awake, Murray administered midazolam.

Over the next few hours, Murray said he gave Jackson various drugs. Then at 10:40 a.m., Murray administered 25 milligrams of propofol after Jackson repeatedly demanded the drug, according to the court records.

Although Murray acknowledged to police that he administered propofol, authorities said they could find no evidence that he had purchased, ordered or obtained the medication under his medical license or Drug Enforcement Administration tracking number. However, police detectives saw about eight bottles of propofol in the house along with other vials and pills that had been prescribed to Jackson by Dr. Murray, Dr. Arnold Klein and Dr. Allan Metzger.

Other drugs that were confiscated in the search included valium, tamsulosin, lorazepam, temazepam, clonazepam, trazodone and tizanidine. They also found propofol in Murray’s medical bag. Murray told detectives that he was not the first doctor to administer the powerful anesthetic to Jackson.

At least two unidentified doctors gave Jackson propofol in Germany. Between March and April 2009, Murray said he called Las Vegas doctor David Adams at Jackson’s request to arrange for Adams to administer propofol. Murray said he was present at a cosmetologist’s office, where Adams used propofol to sedate Jackson. Since he began treating Jackson, Murray said he repeatedly asked the pop star what other physicians were treating Jackson and what drugs they were prescribing. But Jackson declined to provide the information, Murray told authorities.

Murray said he noticed injection marks on Jackson’s hands and feet. When he asked Jackson about them, the pop star told him he had been given a “cocktail” to help him. In addition to Murray, authorities subpoenaed medical records from Dr. Arnold Klein, Dr. Allan Metzger and Dr. David Adams, the affidavit states. They also asked for medical records from Dr. David Slavitt, who conducted the independent medical examination of Jackson for Anschutz Entertainment Group, Dr. Randy Rosen and nurse practitioner Cherilyn Lee. They also subpoenaed records from Dr. Mark Tadrissi, who stored medical records with Adams.

Jackson’s doctor told authorities he left Jackson’s bedside for no more than two minutes before returning to find the pop star not breathing. Jackson reportedly fell asleep at 10:40 a.m.

 

Murray said after monitoring Jackson for 10 minutes, he left to use the restroom. When he returned and saw Jackson wasn’t breathing at 11 a.m. He immediately began attempting to revive Jackson, administering CPR as well as a drug to reverse the effects of the sedative. But police are questioning that account. Cellphone records for the morning of June 25 show Murray made three separate phone calls for approximately 47 minutes beginning at 11:18 a.m.

 

He called Jackson’s personal assistant to request that they send security upstairs. After a few minutes without a response, Murray told authorities he ran downstairs to the kitchen. He asked the chef to send Jackson’s eldest son, Prince Jackson, upstairs. Murray said he continued CPR and waited for the arrival of paramedics.

Murray has already acknowledged obtaining and administering propofol to Jackson the morning that the pop star died. In an interview with police, Murray told them that he had left Jackson alone under the influence of the medication to make telephone calls to his Houston office and family members.

When he returned, he discovered Jackson was not breathing. He performed CPR, and one of Jackson’s staff members called 911. The 50-year-old pop star was rushed to UCLA Medical Center, where he was later declared dead. Much of the investigation has focused on propofol -- a drug typically administered by anesthesiologists during surgery -- and whether Murray’s decision to give it to Jackson as a sleep aid outside a hospital setting reaches a level of negligence required for an involuntary manslaughter charge.

-- Kimi Yoshino and Andrew Blankstein

Photo: Conrad Murray. Credit AFP / Getty Images

Over the next few hours, Murray said he gave Jackson various drugs. Then at 10:40 a.m., Murray administered 25 milligrams of propofol after Jackson repeatedly demanded the drug, according to the court records.

Although Murray acknowledged to police that he administered propofol, authorities said they could find no evidence that he had purchased, ordered or obtained the medication under his medical license or Drug Enforcement Administration tracking number. However, police detectives saw about eight bottles of propofol in the house along with other vials and pills that had been prescribed to Jackson by Dr. Murray, Dr. Arnold Klein and Dr. Allan Metzger.

Other drugs that were confiscated in the search included valium, tamsulosin, lorazepam, temazepam, clonazepam, trazodone and tizanidine. They also found propofol in Murray’s medical bag. Murray told detectives that he was not the first doctor to administer the powerful anesthetic to Jackson.

At least two unidentified doctors gave Jackson propofol in Germany. Between March and April 2009, Murray said he called Las Vegas doctor David Adams at Jackson’s request to arrange for Adams to administer propofol. Murray said he was present at a cosmetologist’s office, where Adams used propofol to sedate Jackson. Since he began treating Jackson, Murray said he repeatedly asked the pop star what other physicians were treating Jackson and what drugs they were prescribing. But Jackson declined to provide the information, Murray told authorities.

Murray said he noticed injection marks on Jackson’s hands and feet. When he asked Jackson about them, the pop star told him he had been given a “cocktail” to help him. In addition to Murray, authorities subpoenaed medical records from Dr. Arnold Klein, Dr. Allan Metzger and Dr. David Adams, the affidavit states. They also asked for medical records from Dr. David Slavitt, who conducted the independent medical examination of Jackson for Anschutz Entertainment Group, Dr. Randy Rosen and nurse practitioner Cherilyn Lee. They also subpoenaed records from Dr. Mark Tadrissi, who stored medical records with Adams.

Jackson’s doctor told authorities he left Jackson’s bedside for no more than two minutes before returning to find the pop star not breathing. Jackson reportedly fell asleep at 10:40 a.m.

 

Murray said after monitoring Jackson for 10 minutes, he left to use the restroom. When he returned and saw Jackson wasn’t breathing at 11 a.m. He immediately began attempting to revive Jackson, administering CPR as well as a drug to reverse the effects of the sedative. But police are questioning that account. Cellphone records for the morning of June 25 show Murray made three separate phone calls for approximately 47 minutes beginning at 11:18 a.m.

 

He called Jackson’s personal assistant to request that they send security upstairs. After a few minutes without a response, Murray told authorities he ran downstairs to the kitchen. He asked the chef to send Jackson’s eldest son, Prince Jackson, upstairs. Murray said he continued CPR and waited for the arrival of paramedics.

Murray has already acknowledged obtaining and administering propofol to Jackson the morning that the pop star died. In an interview with police, Murray told them that he had left Jackson alone under the influence of the medication to make telephone calls to his Houston office and family members.

When he returned, he discovered Jackson was not breathing. He performed CPR, and one of Jackson’s staff members called 911. The 50-year-old pop star was rushed to UCLA Medical Center, where he was later declared dead. Much of the investigation has focused on propofol -- a drug typically administered by anesthesiologists during surgery -- and whether Murray’s decision to give it to Jackson as a sleep aid outside a hospital setting reaches a level of negligence required for an involuntary manslaughter charge.

-- Kimi Yoshino and Andrew Blankstein

Photo: Conrad Murray. Credit AFP / Getty Images

Comments

[I Sanchez]

It's sorry that the world lost a great entertainer, but he brought it upon himself. He knew what he wanted and he was told of the consequences, history tells us what happens to people who use drugs, there is a long list of tragedies with celebrities, he should have heeded the Heath Ledger incident. And not be stupid!

[karmic]

Why on earth the doc agreed to administer all these drugs? For money, he left his ethics behind, huh? And those phone calls? Why on earth the doc left Michael's side when he was under the anesthetic?

Michael needed medical help for his insomnia and all other conditions he was suffering from. But people were expecting him to perform. It's sad that the pressure took his life.

It wasn't like Michael was dependent on Es or something. He was a patient of a clinical condition and the docs didn't treat it but hid it all these years, fooling Jackson for money.

[Robert]

Wow, I heard that Michael Death was ruled as homocide. That's shocking!

[Matthew]

Explosive story. Who says newspapers are dead?

[Laura]

Seriously...did this guy have any rescue equipment in the house? Ambu?
I would think CPR would crush MJ. Can't wait to see the final report.

[Leroy Jenkins]

Nobody to blame here, it was Michael's call for the drugs. Now he could sleep all he wants.. RIP

[Mark Russell]

Extraordinarily sad that a medical doctor didn't treat Mr Jackson for drug addiction. Instead he opted to feed that drug addiction. It's quite apparent that much of the medical community have become subservient to this notion of treating just about everything with drugs. Extremely sad that this is what happened to Michael.

[john crespinel]

the truth revealed!

[Alice]

Then at 10:40 a.m., Murray administered 25 milligrams of propofol after Jackson repeatedly demanded the drug, according to the court records.
Murray said after monitoring Jackson for 10 minutes, he left to use the restroom. When he returned and saw Jackson wasn’t breathing at 11 a.m.
Why he don't go to restroom before injection?
Why????????????

[Jack Henry]

Trying to blame one doctor for this?? Jackson's family, close friends, numerous doctors and many in his entourage were all aware that he was abusing drugs. Put them all on trial for negligence.

[marco]

his value as a death man is bigger than if he was alive, this is certainly the reason why he passed. but nobody of involved people self-asked how much talent we all could lost consequentely to his dead at 50. now it's really to late, there aren't words able to give him back to the humanity.

[Tony]

Very sad! What's even more sad is that if the doctor did the right thing, then probably another doctor would be found to administer the drug? There are sadly no winners, and probably the worlds greatest act has been lost. It's a shame no one had the power to step in to act more appropriately for Michael Jackson and all who are suffering the loss of him. I wonder is it possible to put something inplace to intercept such a tragedy in future?

[mf]

R.I.P MICHEAL KACKSON YOU ARE IN A BETTER PLACE KNOW GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111

[SeanBoy]

Boy, that's enough zepams to put king kong to sleep. Has the doctor ever wondered what kept MJ awake? Maybe MJ needed another kind of help.

[Kelly M. Bray]

Everyone had choices here. Michael Jackson could have opted to receive mental health counseling and enter rehab, but he chose not to. All of the doctors involved could have said "NO", I will not participate in your drug addictions. They chose the money path and lined their pocketbooks instead. Michael Jackson's death was 99.9% preventable.

[JoeQ]

The LA County Prosecutors office will relentlessly pursue this as long as the cameras are rolling ... I mean ... um ... er ... until justice is served.

[CARRIE]

Well, it's obvious to me that Dr. Murray is not well educated when it comes to those types of powerful drugs. I bet he's never performed any surgeries nor has he ever been an anesthesiologist.
Michale Jackson probably had built up a very high tolerance to propofol and God knows what else, which in return required so much medication in him that his heart just stopped.
Shame on the Doctor's who know better when it comes to addictions and patients.
In this article it states that Dr. Murray told detectives that he feared Jackson was forming an addiction and began trying to wean the pop star off the drugs..
What a crock of crap.
Those don't sound like weaning drugs to me.
I feel bad. I wish I could have just sang Michael to sleep. That works better than medications. I've often sung myself to sleep.

[Shane]

As an anesthesiologist, I am shocked that any doctor would give Propofol to an unmonitored patient in their home. I give this everyday in an operating room with state of the art monitors. I am vigilant and constantly their beside my patient. This is the safest anesthesthetic ever invented but when given by non-anesthesia providers to treat "insomnia" it is clearly a recipe for disaster!!!

[Sue]

I'm a nurse anesthetist in the midwest. There is absolutely no way a competent and ethical nurse anesthetist (or anesthesiologist) would ever, ever recommend--let alone administer--Diprivan as a sleep aid. Not in a hospital. Certainly not in a home. 100% contraindicated. I hate to judge peers, but I think Dr. Murray should at the minimum lose his license.

[BradPittWantsMe]

Homocide? I seriously doubt it was intended homocide - the doctor had way too sweet of a deal with Jackson to want to kill him for any reason. But, the doc needs to lose his license for feeding a drug addiction and using such strong drugs to begin with. Jackson is responsible in the end - he was the one abusing drugs - dangerous drugs. If I were on the jury here, I would find the doctor guilty of manslaughter at the most and give him 20 years in jail. Jackson needs to be held responsible here as well, which means that insurance payoffs, etc. need to be halted. The family has enough money anyway.

[Lynette Ray]

I find it difficult to believe that this doctor did anything wrong intentionally. It appears to be a chain of events that was unstoppable. Unfortunately, MJ had a drug addiction. I hope the court finds that it's the drug addiction, not the doctor that/who is at fault.

[Bill]

Michael Jackson's talent and creative levels cost him dearly. He paid a price but not before giving us a portion of his humanity. May we all have the wisedom to separate the beautiful spirit from the physical and emotional man. God knew the road Michael was to walk and the choices Michael would make. It is the grace of the creator to give Michael those fifty years in which he delivered to the world his gifts. Lets asorb the message and continue with it.

[smokeonit]

let's hope ALL doctors the were involved will get a manslaughter charge & conviction!!!

L.A. seems to be the epicenter of corrupt doctors that cater to the rich & infamous...

of course someone should know better than to administer propofol outside a hospital and w/o any heart monitoring device... normally ony anesthesiologists themselves do propofol, this is the 1st time a non-doc has been caught...

[karmic]

What choices did Michael have? Did he have a choice to make the media not write about him to make money (even today the media is making money selling his stories!). Did he have a choice not to go for trial where he was not guilty?
He was a sensitive soul and he was put through hell. He died a slow death at the hands of media and it became practical with this doc's negligence.

[Timothy]

For those few who still believe in personal responsibility, this sounds like accidental suicide, not homicide.