MICHAEL JACKSON'S DEATH

Michael Jackson's Death

Michael Jackson's Death

The death of singer Michael Jackson at the age of 50 years is truly saddening, but it should not have been too surprising. Given all the circumstances, it is difficult to imagine how his story could have a happy ending. Individuals who enjoy a huge success and fame in the United States so often pay a terrible price.

Death and attendant matters have been seminal topics of reflection, disputatious debate, and other modes of social discourse since the dawn of civilization and, presumably, also among the people who predate civilization.

Over the centuries, scholars of many stripes have spoken to the matter of death and documented their musings. Philosophers have pondered the meaning of life and death. Theologians have posited notions and persuasions with regard to eschatological scenarios. Historians have documented myriad configurations of death-related behavior from the past.

Poets and novelists have waxed eloquently on their conceptualizations of death and dying. Archeologists have discovered ancient ruins and artifacts and interpreted the meanings of such discoveries with concern for the patterns of life and death among ancient peoples. Scientists and medical doctors have probed the physiological dimensions of life and death. Missionaries have reported unfamiliar patterns of death-related behavior and beliefs of the exotic people with whom they have lived and to whom they have ministered. More recently, anthropologists have observed and analyzed death-related values, rituals, and ceremonies of the preliterate and folk groups they study.

Death

Morning of 25 June 2009, Michael lost consciousness in the house he rented in Holmby Hills, west of Los Angeles. Jackson's personal physician, cardiologist Conrad Murray later said through his lawyer that he went upstairs and found Jackson in bed, not breathing, but with a weak pulse in the femoral artery. By the time security called 911, about 30 minutes had passed and Michael Jackson was pronounced dead (Saperstein 2009, pp. 67).

Dying

Health

Stacy Brown, biographer of Jackson, said Jackson was "very weak, with very, very great lack of weight" and that the family was very worried about this. Another biographer, Randy Taraborelli, who knew Jackson for 40 years, said that Jackson was suffering from dependency on painkillers for decades. Arnold Klein, dermatologist Jackson, confirmed that Jackson had abused prescription medicine. At the same time, Klein examined Jackson's three days before his death and, according to Klein; the singer was in very good physical condition. “He danced for my patients; he was in good psychological tone, when we examined it and in very good spirits” (Rayner 2009, pp. 14).

Investigation

Investigating the causes of death engaged coroners. Michael's body was transported by helicopter to the Boyle Heights, where the coroner's office exists in Los Angeles. An autopsy was conducted on June 26 evening, after which the body was given to the family. However, the cause of death had not been established. Determination of the death's cause required additional toxicological tests carried out which could have taken anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks (Posner 2009, pp. 23). At the same time, the coroner noted that ...