It now appears that the Los Angeles County Coroner's office plans to delay the release of the Michael Jackson autopsy report to the public by at least two more weeks, while police continue to collect evidence from several doctors who attended to and prescribed drugs to the late pop legend. It appears highly likely that the cause of death might be listed as the drug Propofol, which was to normally only be used in a hospital setting to create a medically induced coma for severe trauma or burn victims while they heal from their injuries. Why such a potentially dangerous drug was even used outside of a hospital setting, or as a sleep inducing agent for Jackson are serious questions for any doctors who prescribed or administered this drug to Jackson?
If abusive prescription or administration of this dangerous hospital-grade drug is determined by the autopsy report, then it might fuel possible sanctions against any doctors involved, including possible loss of medical license all the way to criminal charges. Doctors who treated Jackson have prepared by hiring lawyers to offer public statements pledging cooperation with the authorities as they collect evidence and decide what course of action to undertake.
Part of what makes Propofol such a dangerous drug is the rare, but potentially very dangerous abuse potential of the drug. Some abusers of the drug like the sense of euphoria and sexual hallucinations that the drug most often spurs. And with a steep dose response curb, abuse can quickly become life- threatening. This drug is often used by veterinarians for surgery, as many medical doctors or dentists often use other drugs with more pain fighting qualities, as Propofol has little analgesic qualities.
It is highly possible that the release of the autopsy report could come on a day that either state medical authorities or some prosecutors could also decide to announce some action if the prescription and administration of the drug was considered to be an unethical medical use. If the autopsy report cites an overdose of the drug Propofol as the primary cause of death, as is likely expected, then some significant legal fireworks might soon follow any doctors involved with the administration of this drug to Jackson.

Comments (3)
the drug Propofol, which... (Below threshold)1. Posted by ech | July 17, 2009 1:47 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
the drug Propofol, which was to normally only be used in a hospital setting to create a medically induced coma for severe trauma or burn victims while they heal from their injuries.
Not exactly. My wife is an anesthesiologist and uses propofol all the time as a sedating and induction agent for general anesthesia patients. It's probably the most common one used in the US, so it gets used 10s of thousands of times per day and is considered safe when used by trained medical professionals. Check wikipedia.
1. Posted by ech | July 17, 2009 1:47 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 17, 2009 13:47
2. Posted by Paul Hooson | July 17, 2009 3:48 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Thank you for offering the professional opinion on the drug, as I'm not a doctor, and only have to go on what information I've heard in the news about it.
2. Posted by Paul Hooson | July 17, 2009 3:48 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 17, 2009 15:48
3. Posted by LaMedusa | July 17, 2009 8:14 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Paul, you really want to go to tabloids for speculation. All of these "wild allegations" in the Sun might be the partial-truths you are looking for. I can imagine at least eighty per cent of what they are saying is true:
"The autopsy also found unexplained BRUISING on Jackson's knees and on the fronts of both shins. And there were CUTS on his back, indicating a recent fall."
"He was skin and bone, his hair had fallen out and had been eating nothing but pills when he died. Injection marks all over his body and the disfigurement caused by years of plastic surgery show he'd been in terminal decline for years.
"His doctors and the hangers-on stood by as he self-destructed. Somebody is going to have to pay."
Cardiologist Dr Murray was thought to have given Jackson the final injection of painkiller Demerol.
http://tinyurl.com/kqbp4x
An O.D. of Demerol would induce coma and stop the heart.
3. Posted by LaMedusa | July 17, 2009 8:14 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 17, 2009 20:14