Music

Sedative In Jackson Investigation Recalled Due to Contamination

July 14, 2009

Several lots of Propofol, the powerful sedative that’s often been mentioned in the investigation into Michael Jackson’s death, have been recalled because a handful of orders of the drug were found to be contaminated, Propublica reports. While Jackson’s official cause of death is still pending the results of the toxicology report, the investigation has reportedly centered on Propofol, or Diprivan as its commonly known. Both the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration have asked hospitals to stop using Propofol after lots of the drug contained too many endotoxins, a bacteria that can cause reactions such as fever, shock and — at its most extreme — death.

As Rock Daily previously reported, nurse/nutritionist Cherilyn Lee who treated Jackson said that the star was “adamant” about receiving the intravenous sedative, even though it’s only supposed to be used in hospitals. An overdose of the drug could cause breathing to stop, leading to a buildup of carbon dioxide in the body that could result in cardiac arrest. After Jackson’s initial autopsies, no defects were found that would have caused him to suffer from sudden cardiac arrest, fueling reports that drugs, and likely Propofol, played a role in the singer’s death. If that’s the case, an LAPD police chief said investigators might consider filing homicide charges in Jackson’s death. The investigation is currently focused on Jackson’s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, who says he discovered the King of Pop with a faint pulse and attempted to resuscitate him before calling 911 on June 25th.

Still, until the results of the toxicology tests are known, investigators aren’t saying whether Propofol played a role, nor do we know if the Propofol that Jackson may have been injected with was from the tainted lots. Thus far, only patients in Arizona, Florida and Missouri have been victims of the tainted Propofol, but the CDC’s main investigator in the tainted Propofol case, Dr. Arjun Srinivasan, said the drug might have been distributed nationally.