'No Idea' When Jackson Autopsy Will Be Released, as Medical Probe Expands
Public release of the result of Michael Jackson’s autopsy is being delayed indefinitely by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, as an investigation of the medical personnel who treated the renowned pop singer before his June 25 death expands.
Assistant chief Ed Winter of the coroner’s office says he has “no idea” when the autopsy results will be released, reports the Los Angeles Times. Meanwhile, court records show that a manslaughter investigation that initially focused on Dr. Conrad Murray has now expanded to probe communications between the doctor, who was Jackson’s personal physician, and other practitioners who had contact with Jackson.
Murray’s lawyer has said the physician gave Jackson nothing that should have caused his death. However, the investigation reportedly is focusing in on propofol, an intravenous general anesthetic that Murray is believed to have given Jackson after midnight on the day he died to help him “sleep,” as discussed in a previous ABAJournal.com post.
The drug, which is used on surgical patients in a hospital setting and is not considered appropriate for in-home use as a sedative, is believed to have caused Jackson’s death, reports the Associated Press, citing an unidentified source.
Search warrants released yesterday refer to Jackson as an “addict,” and raise the possibility that excessive prescribing and prescribing to an addict as well as manslaughter could be at issue in the investigation, according to the AP and the Times.
Additional coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Probe of Michael Jackson’s Death Zeros In On Prescription Drug Issues”
Associated Press: “Jackson’s personal doctor was in financial trouble”
New York Daily News: “Michael Jackson doctor, Conrad Murray, may lose Las Vegas home”
Updated at 4:42 p.m. to link to subsequent Associated Press article.
