Michael’s Doctor Gave Him Sedatives Before His Death
Yesterday, Monday, a police officer who asked not to be named told the Associated Press that the heart specialist Conrad Murray—hired by Michael to care for him—had injected him with the anesthetic drug propofol (Diprivan) the night before Michael’s death, June 24, a few hours after midnight.
It should be noted that the official results of the forensic toxicology report on Michael’s body have not yet been announced, and any definitive comments depend on the existence of the forensic medical certificate. The police say that for two years, Michael had been receiving propofol under the supervision of his own doctor(s) to help him with insomnia. Police are investigating whether, besides Conrad Murray, any other doctors gave Michael anesthetic drugs.
Propofol can disrupt a person’s respiratory system, make their heartbeat irregular, and ultimately lead to cardiac arrest. Because of the high risk of this drug, it is used only in rooms equipped with medical facilities and under the supervision of specialists. The drug’s packaging includes a warning that if it is injected, the patient must be continuously monitored by a doctor throughout the period of anesthesia, and an oxygen reservoir and mask must be available so that if the patient’s breathing is affected, help can be provided immediately.
The police said that in Michael’s bedroom there were three oxygen tanks, and 15 other tanks were also located in the guard room. They also found a drip line in Michael’s room that had been delivering Diprivan into his vein drop by drop. His doctor restored Michael to consciousness by stopping this drip injection.
Conrad Murray, 51, is listed in court documents as a suspect in involuntary manslaughter. Murray cooperated fully with police during their investigation.
Propofol is administered to patients who need to undergo surgery in an operating room. According to specialists who commented on the case of Michael’s death, using it to put someone to sleep at home, away from medical equipment, constitutes professional misconduct.
Murray’s lawyer continues to insist that his client did not inject any drug that led to Michael’s death. He said that regarding the claims made by this police officer, he does not comment on rumors or statements by unknown individuals.
Conrad Murray became Michael’s personal doctor in May and was supposed to oversee him during the London concerts. During that time, he was a guest at Michael’s home in the Bel-Air estate in Los Angeles.
On Thursday, June 25, Murray found Michael unconscious in his room and tried to revive him, with one hand while placing the other hand to protect Michael’s frail body behind his back.
It is not exactly clear how long it takes to notify emergency services, but his lawyer said that there was no telephone device in Michael’s room. It took about half an hour for Murray to find one of Michael’s employees in the three-story mansion and ask him to call emergency services. Murray said he did not know the exact address of Michael’s home. Eventually, the call to emergency services was made at 12:21 p.m., and emergency responders arrived at Michael’s home within three minutes. They found Dr. Murray still pressing on Michael’s chest as he tried to revive him. Emergency personnel then spent 42 minutes trying to bring Michael back to life. They then transported Michael to the University of Los Angeles Hospital in an ambulance with its sirens on. Michael died at 2:26 p.m.
His sister Latoya, who had been at the hospital with her three children, said in an interview that Michael’s chest was swollen and red from the revival efforts and electric shock.
This police officer said that the third floor of Michael’s home was restricted to himself, his children, and his doctor, Dr. Murray, and that no one else besides these five people had the right to enter that floor.
Michael’s room was very messy, with about twenty papers—on which something had been handwritten—taped to the wall.
On one of these papers it said, “The children are lovable and pure.”
The heaters and heating system were on, and the temperature on that floor was unusually high because Michael always felt cold.
Source: eMJey / AP