This just in from a story that our Orange County, California wrongful death lawyers have been following: A search warrant affidavit that was unsealed today reports that Michael Jackson died of "lethal levels" of propofol, which is a powerful anesthetic.
The documents say that Murray was treating the singer for insomnia and had been administering to him 50 milligrams of propofol every night through an intravenous line. The doctor has told investigators that he was afraid Michael was becoming addicted to the drug and tried to wean him off it by lowering the dosages he would administer and mixing in midazolam and lorazepam, two other sedatives. He says that two days before the singer's death, he gave him the two sedatives without propofol.
Murray says that on the morning of the singer's death, Murray attempted to get him to sleep without propofol. He at first gave him valium and then later lorazepam via injection. He then administered midazolam and then other drugs. Murray says he finally gave Jackson 25 milligrams of propofol at about 10:40 that day because the singer demanded it. Prescription medications found in Michael's house included tamsulosin, tamzepam, lorazepam, trazodone, clonazepam, and tizanidine.
Jackson died on June 25 in Los Angeles from cardiac arrest. He was 50.
Medical Malpractice
Physicians are responsible for providing patients with a certain quality of care. They are not supposed to overmedicate a patient or enable their drug addictions even when they are hired as someone's personal physician. If a doctor acts negligently by administering too much medication to a patient, the consequences can be lethal and the physician could be held liable for California medical malpractice.
Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, has been considering filing a California wrongful death lawsuit over her son's unexpected demise and there is a chance that Murray could be named a defendant.
Jackson was getting ready for his "final" tour at the time of his death and there are concerns that the rehearsals were taking a toll on his health. Katherine Jackson's attorney has yet to confirm or deny whether concert promoter AEG might be named a defendant if there were to be a civil case.
'Lethal levels' of anesthetic propofol killed Michael Jackson, Los Angeles Times, August 24, 2009
Jackson's mother considering wrongful death suit, Los Angeles Times/AP, August 19, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Medical Malpractice Overview, Justia
Michael Jackson, Dead at 50, Rolling Stones
In Orange County, California, our Anaheim personal injury law firm would like to talk to you about your medical malpractice case.
