One of the doctors that many are pointing fingers at in the Michael Jackson death investigation was booted from his first medical residency because he was caught selling prescription drugs, according to a Daily Beast report.
Beast reporter Gerald Posner is reporting that Arnold Klein, who was Jackson's dermatologist for nearly 25 years, faced allegations in the '70s during his time at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania claiming he sold prescription drugs to students. Posner, citing "two people who know" Klein, writes that the dermatologist to the stars "was apparently forced to leave his residency" following the allegations.
Posner also confirms that Klein is indeed under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department in their investigation into what caused Jackson's untimely death on June 25. Posner questions "whether Klein would have been licensed for practicing medicine had Penn authorities shared the information with law enforcement or the California medical-licensing boards."
Klein's attorney did not reply to emails from Posner inquiring about his report.
Since Jackson's death, Klein has publicly denied any wrong-doing in the death of Jackson, saying he never prescribed any high-powered painkillers that may have led to his death.
"I say that anyone who makes someone an addict or gives a person potentially dangerous substances directly to them to use, like propofol is a criminal. It becomes nothing more than a manslaughter, or something worse than that," Klein said during a 'Good Morning America' interview, mentioning the powerful drug that police reportedly found in Jackson's home.
Michael Jackson starred as the Scarecrow in the 1978 film 'The Wiz.'
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Oprah Winfrey interviewed Jackson in February of 1993.
AP
Time showed off an Andy Warhol portrait on a 1984 cover at the height of his 'Thriller' popularity.
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Michael Jackson is photographed with Brooke Shields in 1988.
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Michael Jackson hit the court with Michael Jordan during the video shoot for 'Jam' in 1992.
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Jackson attends a Pepsi press conference on February 3, 1992. Jackson accepted the largest individual sponsorship deal in history from Pepsi-Cola in 1983.
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Jackson performs during the halftime show at the Super Bowl XXVII in Pasadena in 1993. The halftime show was a ratings smash.
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Jackson and his wife Lisa Marie Presley kiss on the stage of Radio City Music Hall at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards. "And they said he wouldn't last," Jackson joked.
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Wearing a black surgical mask, Jackson arrives with companion Debbie Rowe, mother to two of his children, at a performance of the play "Sisterella" in 1996.
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Michael Jackson with baby son Prince and mother Debbie Rowe on cover of OK! Magazine in 1997.
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"He was not in terrible pain when I saw him. He danced in the office, and he danced for my patients," Klein said. "He was very muscular, and he was very, very happy and dancing. I saw nothing at that point that would make me worry whatsoever," he continued. "But I was always concerned about him because I was always worried about other doctors."
Klein said that Jackson's money and fame gave him easy access to doctors who would provide drugs. "No matter what he wanted, someone would give it to him. The very rich and the very poor and the very famous all get the worst medical care," Klein said.
Klein did say that there were times when he gave Jackson a sedative, but every instance was legitimate.
"There was nothing wrong with the manner I treated Michael, because what I had to do is restructure for an individual who had lupus, who had terrible acne scarring his face. But I was not one of the doctors who participated in giving him overdoses of drugs or too much of anything. In fact, I was the one who limited everything, who stopped everything," Klein said.
