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Introduction
Michael Jackson’s autopsy, conducted after his death on June 25, 2009, did reveal several details about his health and physical condition, some of which were not widely known to the public. However, it’s important to distinguish between “dark secrets” and the clinical findings of a medical examination.
Here’s a summary of key findings and what they revealed about his health:
Cause of Death: The primary finding was that Michael Jackson died from acute propofol intoxication with a contributory benzodiazepine effect. Propofol is a powerful surgical anesthetic that was administered by his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, to help him sleep. This was the immediate and fatal health crisis. Murray was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
Long-Hidden Health Aspects Revealed by the Autopsy:
- Vitiligo: The autopsy confirmed that Jackson suffered from vitiligo, a skin pigmentation disease, which he had publicly stated was the reason for his progressively lighter skin tone. The report noted patches of light and dark pigmented areas on his skin.
- Cosmetic Tattoos: He had several cosmetic tattoos, including pink tattoos on his lips, dark tattoos for his eyebrows, and a black tattoo on the front of his scalp to blend with the wigs he wore.
- Hair and Wig Use: The autopsy revealed that he had “frontal balding” and sparse hair, and was wearing a wig that was glued to his scalp. This was a result of an accident in 1984 where his hair caught fire during a Pepsi commercial shoot, causing second and third-degree burns.
- Scars from Surgeries: Numerous scars were present on his body, including behind his ears, beside his nostrils, on his shoulder, and at the base of his neck, consistent with various plastic surgeries he had undergone over the years.
- Puncture Marks: There were numerous puncture marks on his arms, hips, thighs, and shoulders, believed to be from injections of painkillers.
- Malnutrition/Empty Stomach: His stomach was nearly empty, containing only partially dissolved pills. Reports indicated he was severely emaciated, weighing around 112-136 pounds (51-62 kg) at 5’9″, and possibly eating only one meal a day.
- Chronic Lung Inflammation: His lungs were found to be chronically inflamed with reduced capacity, which might have caused shortness of breath and made physical exertion difficult. However, this condition was not deemed a direct or contributing cause of his death.
- Arthritis: He had mild degenerative spondylosis of the lower thoracic spine and degenerative osteoarthritis in several joints, including his lower lumbar spine and some fingers.
- Other Findings: The autopsy also noted a distended bladder due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate), a small colon polyp, and a cervical rib (an extra rib in the neck), though these were not considered life-threatening or contributing factors to his death.
While the autopsy provided a detailed picture of Michael Jackson’s physical state, including the effects of his struggles with insomnia and reliance on prescription medication, the most significant “secret” exposed was the extent of the acute propofol intoxication and the circumstances of its administration, which directly led to his death. His other health conditions, while notable, were generally not considered life-threatening on their own.
Video