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Jackson Died 'After Demerol Injection'

Family lawyer warned that Jackson had 'issues' with prescription drugs

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 26, 2009 2:13 AM CDT

(Newser) – Michael Jackson's heart attack death occurred after an injection of the powerful prescription painkiller Demerol at his home, a source at the UCLA Medical Center tells the Sun. Desperate aides and a personal physician on the scene gave the singer CPR after his collapse, and made a panic-stricken call to emergency services, according to the source. Jackson was rushed to the hospital within minutes. Paramedics en route informed the hospital that Jackson was "not breathing at all," according to computer records.

At the hospital, doctors "started resuscitation, giving him heart shocks and inserted a breathing tube and other measures to try to save his life," said the source. "He never regained consciousness." The Jackson family attorney told CNN that family members were concerned about the "over-medicated" star's use of prescription drugs. The singer's "use of medications had gotten in the way" of rehearsals for Jackson's planned comeback tours, said Brian Oxman, who added that the singer's death was not "unexpected."

[Images (4)]

[Videos (2)]

A fan holds a poster outside the UCLA Medical Center, where entertainer Michael Jackson was taken yesterday. (AP Photo/ Matt Sayles)

Los Angeles police officers stand in front of Michael Jackson's rented home in the Holmby Hills section of Los Angeles yesterday. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

People are directed away from the emergency room entrance at UCLA Medical Center, where Michael Jackson was taken yesterday after collapsing at home. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Fans hold up a sea of single gloved hands in an impromptu celebration of the life of Michael Jackson, outside UCLA Medical Center after he was pronounced dead there yesterday. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

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Jackson family spokesman Brian Oxman says the singer's death was not completely "unexpected" given his abuse of prescription drugs. (WorldNewsDaily)

CNN reports on the police investigation into Jackson's death. (CNN Video)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 19 comments

Snarfeh

Jun 29, 2009 3:13 AM CDT

When I was 21, I had a kidney stone that was too large and too far up for surgery or any other procedure. It finally moved down the tube a bit and the doc decided to go after it with ultra-sound. While I was in the hospital, they gave me Demerol injections for my pain prior to the procedure. I cannot tell a lie; after pressing the button for a nurse, I'd be on my knees with my ass in the air waiting for that shot by the time the nurse got to my room. I was only on it for a day because the procedure was the next day, but I think I wore that button out. That was some gooooood stuff!

Snarfeh

Jun 29, 2009 3:08 AM CDT

I've read that he's been on painkillers ever since he got burned during the filming of the Pepsi commercial. Who the hell knows? Personally, I suspect "handlers" contributed their share to his misery as most stars on drugs usually have an entourage of numbnuts who find it easier to handle the star if he or she is doped. Downers to control them, uppers to rouse them to perform, back to downers, back up, down, up, down. The body can't handle that, obviously.

AdaptAndOvercome

Jun 26, 2009 12:53 PM CDT

In the end, he brought this all on himself. All the plastic surgeries left him in severe pain and with pain comes addiction. He lead a lonely and miserable life and let's not forget that his little boy fetish was sick. No more pain for him and little boys will be safer with one less molester out there.

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Jackson Died 'After Demerol Injection'