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what did michael jackson die from

Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, from acute propofol intoxication that led to cardiac arrest.

Quick Scoop

  • The official cause of death was acute propofol intoxication , a powerful anesthetic usually used in hospitals.
  • Other sedatives (including benzodiazepines such as lorazepam) were also found in his system and contributed to his death.
  • He went into cardiac arrest at his home in Los Angeles and was later pronounced dead at UCLA Medical Center at age 50.
  • His death was ruled a homicide , because the drugs were improperly administered in a home setting.
  • His personal doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for his role in administering the fatal doses.

A bit of context

In the weeks before his death, Jackson was preparing for his “This Is It” comeback tour and was reportedly struggling with severe insomnia. To sleep, he relied on his doctor to give him propofol, something that is normally only used under strict monitoring in operating rooms, not in a bedroom. On the morning of June 25, 2009, he was given another dose, stopped breathing shortly after, and could not be resuscitated despite CPR and emergency treatment.

In simple terms: Michael Jackson did not die of a long-term illness; he died suddenly from a lethal overdose of strong anesthetic drugs given unsafely at home.

TL;DR: Michael Jackson died from a lethal overdose of the anesthetic propofol, combined with other sedatives, which caused cardiac arrest; the death was ruled a homicide and his doctor was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

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