Toxicology Report Finds Lethal Levels of Propofol in Michael Jackson's Body

CNN is reporting that Michael Jackson had lethal levels of propofol, a powerful anesthetic, in his blood when he died.

According to court documents, Los Angeles coroner Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran is ruling Jackson's death a homicide after reviewing toxicology reports on Jackson's blood. 

Propofol, the generic name for the drug Diprivan, is a general anesthetic that is administered intravenously.  In Jackson's case, investigators believe Jackson's doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, administered the drug to Jackson just 24 hours prior to his death. 

The drug works as a depressant on the central nervous system.  According to Dr. Zeev Kain of the anesthesiology department at UC Irvine, the drug essentially puts the brain to sleep. However, as soon as the infusion has stopped, the patient should wake up almost immediately.

Investigators have searched Murray's home and clinics for evidence relating to Jackson's death.  Murray told LAPD detectives that he had been administering 50 milligrams of propofol to Jackson each night through an IV to treat insomnia. Murray also told detectives that he had become worried that Jackson was becoming addicted to the drug, and was in the process of weaning him of the drug by lowering the dosage to 25 milligrams.  

But Murray allegedly gave Jackson multiple drugs in the early morning on the day he died, including Valium, lorazepam, midazolam, and various other drugs. All the drugs failed to help Jackson fall asleep.  At approximately 10:40 a.m., Murray administered 25 milligrams of propofol.  A short time later, he found Jackson unresponsive and not breathing. Jackson was later declared dead at UCLA Medical Center.

Depending on the findings of the investigation, Murray could face criminal charges.

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