Michael Jackson Death: Homicide or Subconscious Suicide?

The death of Michael Jackson is mysterious because only his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, was with him at the time and Dr. Murray has not yet answered investigators' questions satisfactorily, particularly the one 'when did Mr. Jackson stop breathing?' According to the Los Angeles Times, the LA County Coroner has ruled Mr. Jackson's death a homicide citing that 'a surgical anesthetic combined with other medication killed him' on June 25, 2009- 'acute propofol intoxication' with the additional factor of 'benzodiazepine effect'.

But was it homicide- or suicide? Michael Jackson was said to be suffering from hypomania and depression. He was being treated for anxiety, pain, and sleep deprivation. Neither he nor Dr. Murray intended the end result of death consciously. But on a subliminal level of consciousness, perhaps Mr. Jackson had a death wish or, if not a death wish, then a foreboding of death and allowed it to happen. Anyone who has been highly anxious or deeply depressed has usually entertained at least the thought of suicide.

The Los Angeles Times reports that Dr. Murray said he administered sedatives Valium, lorazepam, and midazolam five times during the six hours before administering 25 milligrams of propofol. During those six hours, Mr. Jackson remained awake and continuously demanded 'milk', his nickname for propofol because it looks like milk of magnesia. The medical profession jokingly refers to propofol as 'milk of amnesia'. Propofol is a sedative commonly used in hospitals and dentistries by anesthesiologists- it is not used as a treatment for sleep deprivation or any other sleep disorders. Dr. Murray said he reluctantly gave in to his patient's alleged demand for 'milk' at 10:40a.m- the fatal mistake.

Dr. Conrad Murray was clearly at fault for administering the lethal dose of drugs. Yet what kind of pressure was he under when Mr. Michael Jackson, a mega-superstar to multiple generations, relentlessly demanded propofol? The doctor, a cardiologist, hand-picked by Mr. Jackson as his personal physician, may have been under tremendous pressur - to try to help his patient... and to keep his job. However, we have only the doctor's word that Mr. Jackson was insistent. And it was the doctor's duty to overrule his patient.

With his discipline in medical training- or even with his intuitive knowledge- how could Dr. Conrad Murray have been unaware that administering propofol would combine lethally with the drugs already in Mr. Jackson's body? His job is to understand drugs, their effects, and their effects when combined. And as a personal physician, he should know the state of Mr. Jackson's mental health and physiology. And what of the Hippocratic Oath sworn by doctors? Part of it is (original version): "I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan;" The modern version states likewise: "I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect."

One would expect that Dr. Murray repeatedly answered Mr. Jackson's alleged demands for propofol with responses about the lethal danger of the drug. Yet, if Dr. Murray did, was Mr. Jackson coherent- at least enough to understand the doctor ... and what was happening to his body? Considered a known junkie for several years, had Mr. Jackson no fear of drugs? Did he not fear death? Did he expect it .... and welcome it?

It seems that Mr. Jackson's death could have been an unwitting act suicide assisted by Dr. Murray. But whether his death was a homicide or suicide of some kind, the media circus that surrounded his life, surrounds his death. Still, the late Mr. Jackson is beyond all that now. One hopes that his family in the here and now is also be beyond it. Most of us who admired the extraordinarily-talented Michael Jackson remember him with love, affection, and awe. But Dr. Murray- the doctor who forgot his Hippocratic Oath and who administered the lethal dose of drugs- will be remembered as the man who killed Michael Jackson. Whether he is found guilty as charged or not.

To view video footage of the helicopter leaving UCLA medical center (and heading for the LA County Coroner) on June 25, 2009 with Michael Jackson's body, click here.

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