Questions Arise About Jackson's 'Lethal' Dose, Death Timeline

By PopEater Staff Posted Aug 28th 2009 10:53AM

When unsealed documents released this week stated that Michael Jackson died of a "lethal" dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol and that Dr. Conrad Murray waited 80 minutes to call 911, most thought the case was cut-and-dry. Some experts, however, are beginning to question things based on the numbers and timeline given in the documents. Details After the Jump

In a Los Angeles Times feature, several medical experts discussed their feelings about the details of the Jackson report, which stated that Dr. Conrad Murray administered 50 milligrams of propofol to Jackson on a nightly basis for some time. Murray told police that on the day Jackson died, he only gave the King of Pop 25 milligrams. Both the 25 and 50 milligram doses are nowhere near enough to kill a person, doctors who spoke with the Times said.

"It doesn't make any sense... I cannot believe that was the number that was given. Such a small amount won't tip anyone over in terms of respiratory depression," Dr. John Dombrowski, a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, told the Times.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=700555&pid=700554&uts=1251404074

http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/movies/?s_channel=us.moviespop&s_account=aolnews,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

Jackson's Docs Under the Scope

Dr. Conrad Murray, who was Michael Jackson's cardiologist, has been a primary person of interest in Jackson's death investigation. Murray has admitted to law enforcement that he administered the drug propofol to the singer. The powerful anesthetic is reportedly what killed Jackson.

Houston Chronicle / AP

Michael Jacksons Doctors

Houston Chronicle / AP

Murray was at Jackson's house on the day that he died. According to new documents, he left Jackson to make some phone calls, and when he returned, the King of Pop was not breathing.

Mark Ralston, AFP / Getty Images

Another one of Jackson's doctors, dermatologist Arnold Klein, has also faced speculation that he may have provided the music legend with illegal prescription drugs. He has denied any involvement in Jackson's death.

Ethan Miller, Getty Images

Jackson's nutritionist Cherilyn Lee has told interviewers that Jackson begged her for drugs. "He didn't take any medications from me, I'm just nutritional. When it switched over to medication, especially that particular medication, I told him -- I only deal with nutrition," she says. Records from her office have been taken to aid in the investigation into his death.

Jae C. Hong, AP

Dombrowski says that there was likely an error either in Murray's description or in the police's understanding of the medical jargon.

Another doctor, Dr. Scott Engwall of UC Irvine's School of Medicine, says that 50 milligrams of propofol is enough to cause someone to sleep for anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes, but not enough by any means to be a "lethal" dose. Engwall said in the case of Jackson, who had been taking the drug constantly, might not even doze off from a 50 milligram dose.

"I think it's not unreasonable that there is some part of this picture we still do not know," Engwall told the Times.

According to TMZ, someone of Jackson's body size would need about 400 milligrams of propofol to sleep for 8 hours, which would amount to 16 times the dosage that Murray claims he gave Jackson.

In addition, PEOPLE is reporting that during a search of Jackson's house, other drugs including marijuana and bottles both full and empty of prescription drugs were found.

Also in question is the timeline from the day of Jackson's death that was in the newly-unsealed documents. According to police, Murray found Jackson not breathing around 11 a.m., and did not call 911 until 80 minutes later. In that time, police say he made several phone calls for a total of 47 minutes.

Murray's attorney Ed Chernoff has released a statement disputing the timeline. The statement reads: "Much of what was in the search warrant affidavit is factual. However, unfortunately, much is police theory. Most egregiously, the timeline reported by law enforcement was not obtained through interviews with Dr. Murray, as was implied by the affidavit. Dr. Murray simply never told investigators that he found Michael Jackson at 11 a.m. not breathing."

Tags: michael jackson, MichaelJackson, propofol

Comments

(246)

Friday 28 August

By AB

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Perhaps Michael ordered his own death.

By Teresa

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Wrong! He didn't want to leave his children, trust me he cherished them. He just was surrounded by people that only wanted his money. My heart breaks for him because he was too trustful!

Sunday 30 August

By Debbie

I believe that he ordered his death too. How do they know that Michael didn't take more when the doctor was not in the room. I said that from the first day. But the police never go in the direction that they should!

Monday 31 August

By Tata

Perhaps the concert promoter that was paying the doctor ordered the death. If Michael didn't perform there would have been millions lost. But now the insurance will make the promoters VERY RICH. When there is a suspicious death investigators should follow the money. tatashady@aol.com

By tina diaz

I do not believe that Michael jackson would of order his own death, he loved his children to much to want to leave them. Someone is lieing here and I believe the doctor is. Someone in that house that day knows the truth about what really happen and they should come forward. Michael looked so happy and in great health in his rehearsal video to want to die. The truth will unfold about what really happened and I believe it's foul play.

By LhasasII

As an ICU nurse in Vegas...I knew Dr. Murray..he is very charming and I remember him talking about Michael Jackson 2 years ago. He said it was the chance of a lifetime.
What this story does not address...the other drugs in Jacksons system and how fast the diprivan was administered. If the drug is given slowly.. go to sleep. If given fast...yes, there is respiratory depression. The other drugs Jackson was taking...prescription for eternal sleep.

By jenni

Vote down Vote up Report this

thats what i said!!!!!!!!!! maybe he paid someone to do it... we alll know what a miserable person he was... i mean he didnt even like himself.

By beck

I don't think he would have ordered his own death because of his kids. I do think if he had insomnia all of the time that would be a reason to die, (I can't imagine being that tired all of the time with no relief) but if he was receiving the drugs on a regular basis, he WAS sleeping or drugged, which may or may not have made him feel rested.

Tuesday 01 September

By Randy

Are you insane? What makes you think he ordered his own death?

By barton4001

agreed

By houstonrealtor

50% Michael and 50% Doctor. Michael is dead and that is his 50% and the doctor simply needs his lic taken away. The doctor should not got to jail for the simply reason that maichel is 50% of the issue.

By Dee

You are so off the mark. He was excited about the tour and wanted to show his kids what he does best and why he has fans all over the world. He adored his kids and would never purposely die.

By Thelma

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I don't think thats the case, He loved the kids too much to hurt them that way.

By aurthor

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

JACKSON ONLY WEIGHED 70 POUNDS HE WAS PENCIL THIN

By Tracy

Being a Registered Nurse in the ICU, I think there is a HUGE Error! Propofol is weight administered by micrograms/kilograms/minute- it takes 1,000 MICROGRAMS to make a milligram! Propofol or Diprovan, comes in 100 mls- in other words if Dr. Murray administered 50 mls, that's half of a bottle and a bottle on a typical sized pt weighing 70 kgs, or 154 lbs, would roughly last 3-4 hours! A rapid intraveneous infusion, would cause hypotension, arrythmias, secondary to decreased cardiac output, and finally, respiratory depression/arrest. I have never seen such gross negligence from ANY health professional. The drug must be weight based and calculated in MICROGRAMS Thank you for reading and may justice be served!

By NANCY

I DON'T THINK SO.....HE LOVED HIS KIDS TO MUCH TO PUT THEM THROUGH HIS DEATH AT SUCH AGE....HE WANTED TO DO THIS SHOW FOR THEM SO THEY COULD SEE THEIR FATHER PERFORM....THIS DOC HAD NO RIGHT TO DO WHAT HE DID...YOU DON'T DEMAND A DOCTOR FOR ANYTHING....I THINK EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE IN FOR A BIG SURPRISE WITH THEY GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT ALL.....MJ WAS MURDERED.......THAT DOC SHOULD HAVE NEVER NEVER LEFT HIS SIDE ONE HE PUT HIM UNDER....NOT EVEN TO GO TO THE BATHROOM....

By Bev

I also think Michael possibly could have wanted his life to end. He had many diseases, skin cancer for one. He knew this concert was his last chance and he knew he wasnt capable physically of doing it. As for his children, does a person that hangs his child over a balcony sound like a good father to you Does a father who is constantly on drugs and even his kids saw it sound like a good father to you He wasnt capable of being a good father and those kids called him a good father because they didnt know the difference between a good one and one that wasnt, Michael was all they knew. Michael wanted drugs - simple as that and Michael got what he wanted. Some are looking for someone to blame but if you want to blame someone then blame Michael for in the end he caused his own death.

By cds

good ridance !!!...lil mikey was a child molesting kreep...they should give this conrad feller a metal.

By mc

Hey Fat sara, Try about 600 mil of Propofol,eat a salad, and then take your fatty diet off the web. Michael's fame and money allowed him to over indulge as many people do everyday, and die. Just ask fatty Sara at(http://cli.gs/AcaiBurn).

By becky

Put this doc away for a long time. It's about time that doctors who will take a position to save lives and do exactly the opposite and endanger the lives of anyone should be punished. I hope he gets life..since he took someone else's life. I'm so happy to know that justice will be done here. Quit blaming Jackson..he is dead and doesn't have a voice to say anything about the injustice. Give me a break..doctors who will prescribe anything to anyone because of the status in life just because they'll pay should pay!

Page 1 of 13