Coroner: Michael Jackson given amount of anesthetic used in 'major surgery' [Updated]

In the last hours of his life, Michael Jackson was given a powerful anesthetic at a level equivalent to what would be used in a “major surgery” and in a manner that did not live up to medical standards, according to the autopsy report on the pop icon released Monday by the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

“The standard of care for administering propofol was not met,” coroners’ examiners wrote in the report. “Recommended equipment for patient monitoring, precision dosing, and resuscitation was not present.”

The report said Jackson died of “acute propofol intoxication” administered by another. Coroner’s officials described a scene around Jackson's bedside that showed a host of problems in using propofol at such a high level.

An oxygen tank was empty and equipment disconnected, and there were no monitors or controlled infusion pump for intravenous administration, they wrote.

They also found that an anesthesiologist would have noted the other sedative drugs in Jackson’s system would have increased the propofol’s effect on the singer’s lungs and heart. In addition to propofol, Jackson’s blood contained lidocaine, diazepam, nordiazepam, lorazepam, midazolam and ephedrine.“

[Updated at 2:08 p.m.: There are NO reports of [propofol's] use for insomnia relief, to my knowledge,” anesthesiology consultant Selma Calmes wrote in the report, underlining and capitalizing the word "no."

“The only reports of its use in homes are cases of fatal abuse (first reported in 1992), suicide, murder and accident,” she wrote.

Because of the risks associated with the drug, it should be administered only by anesthesiologists or other supervised anesthesia providers, trained to recognize respiratory or cardiac problems that can arise, Calmes wrote.

“Full patient monitoring is required any time propofol is given,” she wrote.

Precision in the drug’s dosage through a controlled pump is necessary because “of the narrow margin between mere sedation and full general anesthesia,” she wrote. “The levels of propofol found on [the] toxicology exam are similar to those found during general anesthesia for major surgery (intra-abdominal) with propofol infusions.”] 

-- Victoria Kim at the L.A. County coroner's office

Photo: Murray arrives in court. Don Bartlelli / L.A. Times

Comments

[anthony]

It wont bring him back.

[daniel nunez]

i hope that the doctor gets what is coming to him.he is a killer.

[REALbarbwire7]

Ugh oh.....someone is in big trouble.

[Rhythm]

What a sad state of affairs when a trained-licensed cardiologist is merely charged with involuntary manslaughter in a situation that was undoubtedly something that he should have been charged with murder. He is the one licensed in the expertise of cardiology care, that does have intricate exposure to respiratory as well, this man not only went out of his scope of practice BUT did so maliciously without due care / caution as to the endangerment he exposed patient )Michael Jackson). A more serious charge is absolutely necessary based on the particulars of this case. Why is it not so???

[SammieB]

It's a shame that the worst he can get is 4 years. They need to change the laws to reflect a wider range. Maybe then Murray would have weighed the consequences of say 30 years in prison should something go bad vs. getting paid 150K per month to risk Jackson's life to get "sleep."

[Rhythm]

Its too bad that the public does not have a say in the way this is played out. Undoubtedly, Dr. Murray would receive a far greater charge! Murderer , murderer, murderer- should and would be clearly and loudly proclaimed from the rooftops!! How is it that he is only getting charged with this slap on the wrist charge??!!!

[Cherubim]

I pray God will grant Michael Jackson's children: Prince, Paris, and Blanket, what his father gave to me Love and Happiness.

[K Rose]

How can a doctor be so grossly negligent? It is almost as if he was trying to kill Michael. I mean really how could anyone be so unprepared and callous knowing that his patient could die if he made the slightest mistake? He had no regard for Michael's life. He doesn't seem to even care that he killed him. He is a monster.

[John Cox]

The charge should be murder.

I fail to see how anyone remotely competent with medication can use such a high dosage of an inappropriate drug - unless he either intended to kill, or was reckless as to whether death resulted. So a murder charge should be laid.

It was a pity for Michael Jackson that he chose to entrust his life to a third rate GP who masqueraded as a cardiologist. It seems Murray was chosen for this skin colour rather than his competence. Michael Jackson has suffered with his life for his error of judgement/racism.

[illegals hate amercians]

No PROOF of who gave what, when... He will walk like OJ, soooo whenis the civil suit? lol A day after the not guilty verdict

[Neverland neighbor in SB Co.]

I guess we can all jump on the bandwagon and make this Dr. Murray a pariah, but Michael aided in his own death,sure one can make the arguement that the medical pro should've known better, however when dealing with the likes of Michael Jackson, you just can't say no to the king of pop.

[dan]

This anesthesiology report makes absolutely clear that this was not a case of involuntary manslaughter but of PREMEDITATED MURDER!!! So, not only Murray should rot himself in jail but also he should confess WHO hired him to kill Michael. Because these criminals have stolen the life of the world's most beloved artist in the history of mankind and thus they cannot get away with this crime. Not only do the Jackson family demand JUSTICE FOR MICHAEL but also THE WHOLE PLANET does, for having been deprived of the most talented artist and the most lovable human being of all times.

[Max Flash]

WOW perhaps Latoya is right; it was "murrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrder!!!"

[john doe]

who needs doctors, seems like the police and the public know what to do as the mob yells "murderer!" why even have doctors go to medical school, people can just work at the police station or the da's office and treat heart attacks and do surgery.

[brentlex]

What makes this even sadder is the fact that this almost assuredly was not the first time-note the 'empty' oxygen tank.

[SWB]

This doctor was under intense financial pressure and the huge amount of money he was being offered must have seemed like a godsend. But, far from it, as we now know. He was so compromised in his personal and professional life that he agreed to do this and he was not qualifed at all. If MJ had poor judgement in not listening to the warnings he got about trying to solve his insomnia this way, Murray could have averted this tragedy by saying NO and walking away. But, both men were so desparate for relief, they each caved in under the pressure. Dr. Murray will lose a great deal, but he must be held accountable for his error in judgement. Our beloved Michael paid for his error with his life. God have mercy on us all.

[themagicsinheaven]

I agree, it does seem like he does not care, no remorse at all!
especially when he stated to a church group a while ago ..."I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, I am innocent"

I was so mad about this comment from the Doc. because in my mind it is a cop out! Walking along the street and a rock or a plain or something falls on your head is being in the wrong place at the wrong time!!
Not giving his patient drugs that killed him just because he asked for it!!
What's wrong with this guy??!!

[Thomas]

@daniel nunez: People like you are the reason the world is such a violent screwed up mess. You're ready to hang someone before you know all the facts. Sure it looks bad, but here's the thing. We fight for, die for, and treasure our due process and rule of law, which you so quickly piss on. We have trials in courtrooms, not on websites and cable news channels. And besides, maybe we should pity the doctor. Maybe he was weak, conflicted, unable to say no to his powerful patient. An excuse, of course not. But maybe a reason to think of him as something other than a cold-blooded murderer?

[Tim]

It really is all too sad and I mean SAD in every account. I dont blame the doctor as so much the society that makes it ok for the use of drugs. One to get us up and one to put us down and round and round. Doctor Murry was a paid professional but perhaps this had gone on all too often and they began to get complacent, both Dr. Murry and MJ. One look at the drugstore that MJ had inside him and one can only wonder what was and what wasn't what the doctor gave him. None of this is going to bring MJ back but perhaps we can learn from this, perhaps physicians will be more alert to not risking a patients life for an eccentric's wish for top pay. The risks are just too great, the law of averages will at some time catch up with you. Rest now in peace Michael Jackson.

[TSAE GROUP]

I believe that IF Michael Jackson has ALL the wither all to buy almost anything . . . including drugs - meds etc . . . And if he REQUESTED as well DEMANDED the DRUGS from his Doctor, then Michael Jackson , himself ABUSED the DRUG , which caused his own death .

Thus here NOBODY to BLAME really is MICHAEL JACKSON himself and NOT the doctor .

I strongly suggest that the blame be placed 100% vs MICHAEL JACKSON and 0% vs the Doctor . . . . .

Michael Jackson was the one that wanted the drugs . . . . !!!!!!

That's the way most people would see it . . . . RIGHT ?

[Kevin]

Geez:

What did Michael Jackson think he was taking? Bosco. Why doesn't anyone feel that Mr Jackson had some responsibility to get off the drugs he was taking?? He must have known the risks. It is a sad situation but to only blame others is ridiculous.

[John]

I feel like this was a Race attack against Jackson and it should be investigated fully.

[Just the Facts]

I think MJ was a very lonely, disturbed, lost soul. Talented, but obviously not internally balanced in a way that he could easily overcome his dependency on drugs. His doctor was quite irresponsible administering this overdose knowing Michael s' weakness. The fact that the doctor was making an easy fortune looking after Micheal's needs I don't think he did what he did intentionally however, why would he want to lose his best customer? I do also however think doctors like this, like the ones that overloaded Anna Nicole and others with too many drugs should be held responsible for their actions. Point being, a licensed physician is expected to practice medicine in an ethical and professional manner and not abuse or use their authority in such a way that is recklessly dangerous to human life. These doctors should not be prescribing drugs like candy, bottom line. It is up to the doctor to say, I am not going to give you drugs just because you want them. Conrad Murray is not the first physician to come along and do this, how many more celebrities need to die this way before a new standard is set?

[MBazil]

Fact is, whether Dr Murray aided the singer or not, Michael would've found some way to get the stuff. So, he is responsible for his own actions. However....a true, morally sound professional doctor, would never... NEVER have administered anything like that, no matter how much he was being paid. He was responsible for the total well being and safety of his patient, therefore, he is in the wrong on more than one account. For not taking full responsibility of his patient, for not taking the necessary precautions, for using a highly addictive and obviously lethal, substance (among others) in a non controlled manner. Most importantly, he did not offer the NECESSARY help Michael needed... and that was addiction support. You don't wean someone off by pumping them full of various other meds at several intervals in one night. He was obviously not working within his abilities. I think there are more people involved in his Michaels' death than what they lead us to believe. Some people in his entourage who pretended to be his friends... or to be there to look out for him... to be there for his safety and well being should be held responsible. Yes, in the end, Michael is the only one who is ultimately responsible for his own actions... but if you've ever known an addict.... they don't know when and how to stop. And often, they don't want to because at that point, life is just too unbearable and filled with too much pain, to feel the need to stop.

[CAnne]

This man needs to be held accountable for his actions. He sold-out and now he has to pay. He is ruined as a professional and he has blood on his hands. The way he "stacked" those meds one on top of each other, on a man Michael's size, what did he think would happen? Its a very sad story all the way around and one that didn't have to happen. Very, very sad. I lost my mother when she was 36 years old due to an anesthsia malfunction during childbirth. No one was ever held responsible for her death; it is a tough thing to get over.