#65 - Michael Jackson and Naloxone (Narcan)

Last week in my nursing assistant class, I learned why the doctor that was caring for Michael Jackson was convicted of manslaughter. To be honest, I didn't really follow the stuff about Michael Jackson. I'm not really into celebrities and all the drama around them. But this little info shared by our nursing assistant course teacher was interesting.

Michael Jackson Watercolor Print by christydekoning on Etsy, $20

I didn't realize Michael Jackson's doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, was convicted of manslaughter not because he doped up the star with pain medicine that killed him but because he didn't have the drug that will reverse depressed breathing caused by drug overdose. Naloxone could have reversed the depressed breathing within 2-5 minutes! If the doctor had given Narcan (naloxone) to Michael Jackson he very well may have survived. However, the doctor did not carry the drug and instead Micahel Jackson basically suffocated because the pain medicines depressed his breathing so much that he didn't breathe at all.  What a tragedy that Michael Jackson might still be singing if Dr. Murray had only carried naloxone in his supplies. As the Boy Scouts always say "Be Prepared".

For more information on how naloxone prevents overdose, click here.