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LAPD search for doctor after Michael Jackson's death
David Gardner in Los Angeles, Robert Mendick and Kiran Randhawa26.06.09
A doctor who injected Michael Jackson with a painkiller shortly before his death was being sought by police on Friday afternoon.
They want to question the physician about the last hours of the 50-year-old star, who died of a suspected heart attack at his Los Angeles home.
A law enforcement source has revealed that the doctor cannot be located.
Jackson's personal physician — thought to be Dr Tohme Tohme — was with him when he collapsed shortly after noon (8pm UK time). Paramedics arrived within four minutes of being called to find the doctor trying to revive the star, who had stopped breathing.
A spokesman for Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that officers were looking for a doctor who was at the star's house at the time of his collapse.
He said: “We are looking for him because that is a normal part of an investigation like this. We cannot confirm the name of the doctor.”
The hunt was revealed by TMZ — the website which broke news of his death.
The site said that the doctor's BMW was seized from Jackson's home. It has emerged that the star received an injection of the morphine-like synthetic drug Demerol a few hours before he suffered the heart attack.
Jackson's family and friends believed his heart attack was caused by the pressure to perform at London's O2 arena.
Family lawyer Brian Oxman blamed “enablers” for pushing Jackson too hard physically in preparation for the 50 comeback concerts in London that were due to start on 13 July.
Former Jackson 5 publicist Arthur Phoenix said he had warned the singer's family that he was too frail to perform at the O2.
Jackson himself was left fuming after concert promoters booked 50 gigs.
He told fans on his website this month: “I don't know how I'm going to do 50 shows. I'm not a big eater — I need to put some weight on.
“I'm really angry with them booking me up to do 50 shows. I only wanted to do 10, and take the tour around the world to other cities, not 50 in one place. I went to bed knowing I sold 10 dates, and woke up to the news I was booked to do 50.”
Speculation is now also turning to the fate of his three children — Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II — who were being looked after by Jackson's mother, Katherine.
Lawyer Mr Oxman said of the death: “This was something which I feared and something which I warned about. This is a case of abuse of medication, unless there is another cause that I don't know about.
“The people surrounding him have been enabling him. If you think the case of Anna Nicole Smith [the model who died from an overdose] was abuse then that is nothing in comparison to what we have been seeing in Michael Jackson's life. Where there is smoke there is fire.”
Mr Phoenix added: “As a family friend, I let Joe (father) and Tito (brother) know my concerns. Michael put his heart and soul into these shows ... but his heart and his physical being just wouldn't hold out.”
Mr Phoenix claimed that family members shared his opinion but were too afraid to speak about their concerns.
He added: “The family is in mourning right now. They are devastated and very hurt. The world of entertainment has suffered a great loss, the biggest since the death of Elvis Presley.”
Paramedics spent 42 minutes treating Jackson at the house but he did not regain consciousness. He was declared dead at 2.26pm local time at the UCLA Medical Centre, about two miles from his home near Sunset Boulevard, after a further hour spent trying to save him.
Fans around the world were stunned by the news. Jackson's 1982 album Thriller, which remains the biggest-selling album of all time, went immediately to No1 in the iTunes chart while Twitter, the online messaging service, was receiving 5,000 messages a minute.
Jermaine Jackson told reporters outside the hospital: “This is hard. My brother, the legendary king of pop, passed away on Thursday, June 25 2009 at 2.26pm. It is believed he passed away of cardiac arrest.”
Gossip websites were full of claims over the circumstances. One, quoting a hospital source, claimed Jackson had collapsed after an injection of the painkiller Demerol.
The source said: “Shortly after taking the Demerol he started to experience slow, shallow breathing. His breathing gradually got slower and slower until it stopped.”
Sources suggest Jackson had also been taking other prescription painkillers and anti-anxiety drugs Xanax and Zoloft in recent months.
Mr Oxman said the singer was taking the drugs to deal with past injuries, including a broken back, which were sabotaging his concert rehearsals: “His use of medications had come in the way and injuries he had sustained performing had got in the way.”
Another brother, Marlon, said the Jacksons were “stunned”. Janet Jackson flew to Los Angeles from a film shoot and their parents also arrived last night.
Jackson's ex-wives Debbie Rowe and Lisa Marie Presley spoke of their shock. Ms Rowe, who gave birth to two of Jackson's children — Prince and Paris — was “inconsolable”. Presley said she was heartbroken for his children: “I am so very sad and confused.”
Reader views (41)
I think, maybe doc igle him drugs, and drugs maybe cause cardiac attack.. That's why he run off, with BMW, and his name is annomious (:
- Vukella, Serbia / Belgrade
I guess this is what happens if one continually put his body on 'overdrive'. Its just not natural. Its tragic.
- Joe, Kuala Lumpur MY
It is soooo devastating..cannot still come to terms with it, a true ledgend.. his music was a really important part of my life as a depressed and sad teenager..his music was one of the things that got me going.. you will be truly missed!! R.I.P your music will live forever!!
- Elizabeth, London, Uk, London, UK
My heart is with his sons. He not only was a great musician - he was a loving dad too. He changed his appearance for a white one as the accident with Pepsi happened. I'm sure it was his way of getting rid of burned skin. I always felt sorry for him and may he now be more happy as in his life here.
- Evelyn, Munich, Germany
I am devastated by the news about Michael Jackson. He was my first pin-up pop idol and even years later, his music still continued to make me happy. Even watching the tributes to him on the television now, it still doesn't seem real. He was a true icon of our times and he will leave an enormous hole in the heart of music. God love you and rest in peace Michael, you were the modern meaning of the word "legend".
- Caroline, London
MJ was a Great of the 1980's. I am not a pop music fan myself, but he did have genuine talent and ability, unlike the non-entities who try to be famous today, who cannot sing, dance, act, or even converse with intelligence. There are to many today who are famous for no other reason then they are famous, but are vacuous and stupid.
Whatever his faults, and he had many, he was a great star.
- Mario Laurenza, London UK
MJ's subjective experience of his life was as a child and unfortunately many people bought in to this and thought that he was still a child instead of a middle aged man of 50. So lacking in self esteem and self worth, he felt the need to cloak himself in a fantasy.
I can't think of anyone (nice) who represents a life of total denial more than MJ.
He not only rejected himself but life itself!
- Washeed Dartee, London UK
our greatest lengend of my time died .it is very sad for us all indians
- Niranjan Gowda, Bangalore,India
I have much concern for the children. They look happy being in the pictures being posted now. The three look happy with Michael.
I enjoyed seeing Michael dance. He was so talented, a genuinely a natural.
- Linda Kimball, New Port Richey, Florida USA
im so sad,i realy like mical music.his musicbe remembered forever , good buy mical
- Sha, melbourne
Michael Jackson the best!!!Forever!!!Memory!!!!
- Yuriy, London. United Kingdom
Michael Jackson's was the best in the world and hi wos the best in his music,dancer in the world i sean.i too much like him He was my fan
and soil my fan for ever
- Josef, cardiff
This 65 year old joins my children in feeling the world is impoverished by his death.God bless him.
- Chris M, morbihan,france
He was a remarkable artist and it's a shame that his life took a personal downturn throughout the years even though his music was doing well. It's almost like he was two different people. The kid in the 1970's and early 1980's that was so cool, so talented...then the guy who became a sort of weird spectacle.
Best wishes to his family. He'll be missed by alot of people.
- Greg, Cartersville, GA, United States
My condolences to Micheal,s family he will be sadly missed by a lot of people for his briliant music I hope he is at peace now away from the public eye and all the criticisem he got from the press god bless you michael xxxxxxxx
- Susan, Lochgelly Fife Scotland UK
The last legend in my time-its a very sad day for all-my wishes to his family.
- M G C, England
Michael was born in my era same year, he was 3months older than me, and i grew up with his music....god bless cos his music will live on............
- Nvp, Perth, Australia
he was a piece of universal magic a sweet sweet genius
- Anne, Paris
I hope he can R I P now godbless him.
- Eddie, STAINES
We all come from God and we all return to Him.
- Ak, S. Africa
hi ...
i am extremely sad cox of this.......
try not to cry p;lxxxxxxxxxxxx
bye
may allah bless micheal
- Naish, maldives
Michael Jackson was a MUSICAL GENIUS....No matter how controversial his personal life was, most of the world remember him for his songs.
We will remember him not for the headlines but for his music...HIS MUSIC WILL NEVER DIE....
- Nj, london, uk
Michael Jackson was amazing, I'm so proud to be long time fan of his, and very upset to hear about his death. He really was a multi-talented genius.
- Ben S, London
I find the media and public obsession with his death frankly scary.....he is being portrayed as a god and members of the public speak of him as though they knew him personally....this is an example of celebrity obsession at its worst....he was a good singer and dancer but that is all...he owed everything to his producers namely Quincy Jones who was the true artist who created the Jackson sound. And what does it mean to be the "King of Pop"? Pop music is merely a musical genre - he was not the king of any nation or peoples - and yet he named his children "prince" - it shows that he also had an unhealthy attachment to his own fame which ultimately led to his downfall....
- Abf, London
Yes but caused him to undertake these concerts - money problems. I really think a Helicopter following a dead body is way too much.
- Gary, Brentwood
Susan Boyle could do the concerts! (Probably not.)
- John, London
"Come on Gordon, time you expressed your deep personal regret etc etc!"
Well, we may be mourning Michael Jackson, but it seems that the reincarnation of Oscar Wilde is amongst us, scattering pearls of scintillating wit as he descends to earth. Truly, we are not worthy.
- Michael, London
The M has gone from the Music.
RIP
- S Cooper, London
we have lost a legend to the music industry . an i am very sadened by this . i just hope he can be at peace now . god bless is family an children he will be sadly missed . may you rest in peace micheal
- Michelle Burns, west yorkshire
So sorry to hear the news, feels surreal! God Bless Michael, you will always live on in our hearts. Love to the Jackson family
- Ams, Reading
A tragic end to a life in which he knew nothing but fantasy and pressure from everyone who surrounded him from the age of five. At least most of the other superstars whose lives have been cut short had the luxury of a reasonably ordinary childhood. A sad lesson here for all the aspiring young teen talent with only TV and fame in their eyes, and more importantly a lesson to their parents, agents and assorted hangers-on and gold-diggers. Michael Jackson was up their with Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles as a supreme entertainer but he missed out on what they had ... memories of real life growing up before the fun began.
- E.Cowham, Melbourne, Australia
I feel a law suit coming on!
- Paul, London
we love you jacko.you have been a good guy. we still love your music, god bless yah rest in pearce(RIP.
- Chevaun, united kingdom (ENGLAND)
this is a big loss for the whole world
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
- Haris, uk
I don't believe a word of it!! What a perfect way to get away from the constant media attention and dodgy court cases while he still has enough money left to live in comfortable seclucion. Mark my words!
- Chris, Brighton, England.
Very sad news, king of pop rest in peace. You will never be forgotten, hope god helps your family and kids get through this very sad time x
- Sara, london
Just like Diana, all those in the MEDIA & public who vilified, criticised and mocked him over the years are now singing his praises. How hypocritical. Any death is sad, surely Farah Fawcetts is more upsetting given what she had to endure personally & physically
- Reality Check, UK
Died aged 50 - A great pity, but we do have a legacy of music that has touched generations over the last 40+ years.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants
Come on Gordon, time you expressed your deep personal regret etc etc!
- Paul, London
At least the poor man is now at peace, he truly was a tortured soul, one can only hope that his children are brought up in a slightly less erratic fashion now.
- Bob, Cheam
A brilliant artist, but a tragic end to a tragic life. My condolences to his young children and family. May he rest in peace. His brilliance and oddity went hand in hand but may always be remembered for his brilliance. We loved you Michael and hope you are happy now.
- Smb, London, UK
