'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

[F]

"Nobody to blame here"

What a joke. It is against the law to administer propofol unless cardiac monitoring equipment is in use. There was no such equipment present.

[Prem YPI]

It is not just fault of murray. When u work wit such megastars, you are bound to act according to his demands under pressure. I can't evn think that he couldn't sleep whole night and it became 10:40 a.m. finallly. Murray should be let alone to live life peacefully.

[biker-ur2b12]

We are all going to have to face it someday. The only thing that really matters is if he was ready to face eternity....and where he's spending it now.

[swf]

Doctors have been shown that they can be suckered by celebrities. Not new. Families that live off one super-successful child and pay lip service to his self-destructive tendencies are also not new. There's something sinister and disquieting about The Jackson Family, and I hope a quality, objective writer can deliver the book as a warning to other show business families.

[Alex]

Michael Jackson is at fault.

Murray is at fault.

And plenty other doctors aswell. It looks like Murray will be the fall guy for alot of other doctors who were also just as guilty, if not more.

I wonder AEG's role (the company promoting the 50 date tour). Considering Murray was being paid by AEG I wonder the pressure AEG would of put on Murray to "keep the man sleeping, keep the man happy, we just want him to do the shows so we can get our damn money".

Greed!!!!!

Al

[Ken D]

This is ridiculous. MJ was in great shape preparing for a world tour. Ask Lou Ferrigno!!!

I think the Media is lying about MJ! Big time!

[Samg]

Do you really need to be a doctor to know that so much medication, especially sleep medication, can be deadly?

MJ received the worst possible level of health care imaginable - in spite of his money and fame.

That should tell us something.

[lwps]

A poor man treats his problems with a poor man's drugs. We see what a rich man does. There is not that much of a difference. I am amazed at the denial in people who insist there is a seperation.

[UnderTheBlueSky]

So self-administering (with the help of a quack) propofol - which surgery patients have to sign waivers for, acknowledging the risk of death over its use - along with other sedatives, can actually kill you? Who knew!?

[Elizabeth]

I believe that an adept addict, like Jackson, would have taken the opportunity of his doctor's absence ( when you gotta go, you gotta go ) to increase the amount of sedative in his IV. I believe Michael Jackson killed himself.To blame his doctors is ridiculous; if I were his physician, I would sue the Jackson estate for defamation of character.

[B Bonham]

I knew it all along. Its all about the MONEY. Its a sad situation. Now a mother lost her son and the children lost there Dad and the family lost their brother. And the world has lost a great entertainer. Why did the doctor make phone calls and to whom, when he was trying to revive Micheal?

[ShellyB.]

Sanchez,
You are missing the GREATER point! Patients can ask for anything they want, but it is the moral responsibility for a Doctor to first....do no harm!
Conrad(I can't call him a doctor), should have had the common sense, to say..NO!

[Jimbo]

Frankly, my dear, I don't give a darn. People die every day, including people more valuable and less self-destructive than Michael Jackson. Which brings up the question I've always wanted to ask: Why do some of you call him "Michael"? You didn't know him personally. You only knew him as a stage persona with a bejewelled glove. You realize that is not the same as knowing someone as a flesh-and-blood person, don't you? You realize it's an illusion, don't you? You realize he was probably a manipulative pedophile, don't you? You realize as a musical talent he was not anywhere close to a lot of less-famous musical talents, don't you? Do you even notice the non-famous people who die more needlessly?

[lj]

Bottem Line - doctors are supposed to be your caregiver and look after your health - not prescribe addictive medications to someone who has in the past dealt with addiction issues. What a shame. All he wanted was some sleep. What a loss.

[John Cox]

It isn't unusual for super rich and indulgent celebrities to succumb to drug abuse. And Jackson was the most self-indulgent of them all. So his end really shouldn't have been a surprise.

Any doctor treating such people is under huge pressure to give them whatever drugs they want. That is where their professionalism and strength of character comes in. A good, experienced, doctor will be able to say no - that is why people like this keep changing doctors.

Jackson made the mistake of selecting an inexperienced, and perhaps rather bad, doctor. He was picked as a yes man, and fulfilled Jackson's expectations of him.

[shazz]

What i can't seem to understsand is the fact that the times don't match up. According to doc Murray, michael was found not breathing at 10:40 but the cops found that Murray made a 47 min phone call at 11:18 which means Michael was out for roughly an 1hr and a half before some calls 911. Even then murray says he retrieved Michaels son. Why would u get a 12 yr old kid to come watch his father die? What the heck is up with that? If someone called me to see my mother or father die i might attack them. What was the point of calling up Prince michael? What could he have done? Murray was not only the doctor, but the adult and that was a bad choice he made. For one, he shouldn't have mixed all thoes drugs! he said he was trying to get Michael off of Proforol but he still ended up giving it to him anyways after all thoes frivolous medications. This guy is a murder!

[carlos]

dont blame on the doctor find out how he was getting the drugs, michael was good as actrees , but he has additions with drugs

[O. Yrazu]

To I. Sanchez(PREVIOUS ONE);

When a person takes drugs and cant stop taking them, we say this people need help. If you go for years being insulting and being told false very grave allegations, is easy any person may have problems to sleep; Insomnia. And I can tell you this is the moment when the doctors must be responsible and do correctly their Job. You should not insult like that, and people like you are the ones breaking Michael Jackson REPUTATION, YOU MUST BE VERY HAPPY..POOR YOU, POOR PERSON YOU ARE..BUT TELL ME WHY DO YOU LIVE HATING..YOU MUST BE SUFFERING, GO TO THE DOCTOR..I HOPE THEY HELP YOU AS YOU LIKE THIS ONE TO HELP MICHAEL..
MICHAEL BRILLIANT, SUPERB, ARTIST AND HUMANITARIAN WHO WORLD LOVES SO MUCH..
R.I.P.
THANKS TO ALL REST NICE PEOPLE READING

[Dano50]

Whoops! The doc might want to check his malpractice coverage...

Elvis and MJ have left the building...in the same manner. Let the conspiracy theories begin..

[Dan Feinberg]

Propofol should only be administered in an operating room or intensive care unit, when the patient is on a continuous cardiac monitor. It should NEVER be given outside of a hospital. In my opinion, IV medication should not be used to help someone sleep unless they are in a hospital or on hospice.

[AdoptiveFather, Los Angeles CA]

Lets put Dr Conrad Murray in charge of Obama Health Care Plan. Solves many problems at once.

[Bob]

I'm an anesthesiologist, and I assure you that 25 mg of Propofol is not lethal. Doses to induce anesthesia are on the magnitude of 2-3mg/kg such that a 70kg man would require approximately 150mg to suppress breathing.

[Bill Boxer]

Hypoxia (as in high altitude pilot training) is the only way to go. It is like getting a shot of sodium pentothal.

[Monique]

Dr.s take an oath. They are expected to live by that oath. Their job is to help people not hurt them. Yes Michael should have known better BUT UTIMATELY it was the doctor's job, the doctor's judgement to tell Michael no!

Again- it was most definitely the DOCTOR's responsibility to tell his patient "NO".

Sorry, yes, Michael (I love him dearly) was an idiot...BUT the final blame lies with his doctor.

The family, the FDA, need to press charges. The doctor actually killed him...if the doctor said, no Michael, no way...I'm leaving...Mike would still be alive.

[Larry]

Legal, ethical and moral standards were breached and a death was caused by a drug dealer. The drug dealer charged $100,000. a month to supply and administer drugs that were by prevailing medical standards, inappropriate for the cicumstances under which they were given. In this case, the drug dealer is a licensed physician. And that license should not be used as a defense for so obvious a violation of the law. Any licenced medical doctor, including Doctor Conrad Murray, should be held to a yet higher standard. With all his education and knowlege and familiarity Dr. Murray has a far greater understanding of the actions, interactions and containdications of the drugs they prescribe than a street drug pusher. If found guilty in a court of law, it is simply usconciousable for him receive a sentence any less severe than the federal guidelines require be given to an unlicenced drug dealer. Justice not applied equally is not justice.