Propofol - Law Med Blog

Nurse Pleads Guilty To Propofol Murder Of Stepfather

February 12, 2012 lawmed No comments

In Dekalb County, Al, prosecutors say 32-year-old Karri Denise Willoughby siphoned money away from her stepfather, Billy Shaw’s, account and stole her mother’s identity for financial gain. When her theft was discovered her access to the accounts was cut off and in response she murdered Shaw they say. On Wednesday, the day after a jury was seated and the morning her trial was to begin on capital murder charges, Willoughby agreed with them and pleaded guilty to a lesser count of murder. She has been sentenced to 20 years.

It was first thought that in 2008 Shaw died of a heart attack. A year later his body was exumed when toxicology results revealed a high concentration of propofol in his blood stream at the time of death. Also found were the drugs vecuronium and succinylcholine, powerful paralytic drugs used in surgery. Willoughby worked as a registered nurse at a Chattanooga, … (Continued…)

Where Has All the Propofol Gone?

January 16, 2012 lawmed No comments

By Kurt Stone OpEdNews.com

Propofol — one of the drugs that led to Michael Jackson’s untimely death — is a short-acting, intravenously administered hypnotic agent. Known in some circles as “Milk of Amnesia,” its uses include the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia, sedation for mechanically-ventilated patients, and procedural sedation. Propofol — and its generic equivalents — has been widely and successfully administered in hospital operating rooms around the world for nearly 30 years. And, as of June 4, 2010, Teva Pharmaceuticals, the Israeli-based firm that was the major supplier of Propofol, no longer manufactures it. Today, it is almost impossible to find.

Where has all the Propofol gone?

And while we’re at it, where has all the Doxil, Adderall, Mitomycin, Morphine Sulphate, Avalide, Ondansetron, Succinylcholine, Dextrose, B-12 and more than 200 others medicines gone? Shockingly, between 2006 and 2010, drug shortages increased by more than 200% according to a … (Continued…)

Felon Dr. Norberg Defense Of Propofol Use On Wife FAILS [Video]

January 08, 2012 lawmed No comments

In what can only be described as a pathetic attempt to justify what was at best gross medical negligence and unethical behavior, and at worst chemical incapacitation for the purpose of committing serial rape, Dr. Jon Norberg, 41, of Fargo N.D. went on camera Friday, days after pleading guilty to lesser charges of felony reckless endangerment and misdemeanor sexual imposition.

If the public learned anything about propofol from the Michael Jackson case , it is the fact that it should NEVER be administered in someone’s home under ANY circumstances, and that it is a very dangerous drug in untrained hands. The good Dr. Norberg would have us believe that he is somehow qualified and even experienced in the administration of propofol and that a reasonable physician might inject his wife with it over and over to treat an illness. There is not an ounce of truth in this. Not an … (Continued…)

Hospital Propofol Policy Results In $3M Judgement In Patient Death

December 21, 2011 lawmed No comments

Here at the Law Med Blog we have mentioned more than once the minefield institutions create through their ill considered creation of various unnecessary policies and procedures. The incredible irony here is that these P&P are almost always created with the idea they will LIMIT liability and increase quality of care. Often times they serve to create local Standards of Care which deviate from nationally accepted standards. The hospital however can be held liable for violating their own policies, regardless of whether they followed national standards. Once implemented, patients are entitled to be treated under the hospitals published policies.

And this brings us to Enloe Medical Center in Chico, California. A Butte County Superior Court jury Monday ruled the hospital must pay the family of 50 year old Todd Stewart $3 million. Stewart, who died after a failed attempt to replace a faulty lead in an implanted cardiac defibrillator, underwent … (Continued…)

Company Increases Availabillity Of Propofol

October 18, 2011 lawmed No comments

APP Pharmaceuticals increases Propofol production.

From Pharmaceutical Business Review

APP Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Fresenius Kabi Pharmaceuticals, has increased the availability of its drugs including APP Diprivan (propofol 1%) and APP Propofol 1% (generic Diprivan).

The company is said to have increased the production to supply the US market and meet the clinical needs of health care professionals. Propofol, marketed under the brand name, Diprivan, is a fast-onset sedative-hypnotic agent used for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia or sedation.

APP Pharmaceuticals president and CEO John Ducker said in order to maintain a consistent supply of this drug, the company has responded promptly in the face of drug shortages to meet market demand.… (Continued…)

Juries Slap Propofol Companies With Over $280M Damages In Hep C Cases

October 15, 2011 lawmed 1 Comment

Two separate juries have levied a combined total of over $250 Million in punitive damages for 5 plaintiffs in two separate trials. The plaintiffs were suing after they contracted Hepatitis C from what their lawyers argued was contaminated propofol. The defendants were Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Baxter International Inc., manufacturers and distributors of the drug.

Plaintiffs argued that the pharmaceutical companies were negligent when they packaged the propofol in large vials thereby encouraging multiple use of what is supposed to be a single use vial. Propofol is particularly prone to contamination and its formula promotes growth of viruses and bacteria.

Michael Washington and his wife, Josephine, alleged that Mr. Washington was diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 2007 after he received Propofol from a reused vial at a Las Vegas Endoscopy clinic run by Dr. Dipak Desai. They were awarded $90 Million in punitive damages Friday. The same jury awarded … (Continued…)

Toxicology In The Michael Jackson Manslaughter Trial

October 08, 2011 lawmed 9 Comments

Witness testimony concerning the autopsy and toxicology results has begun in the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray for voluntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson. This is likely the make or break area of testimony for the defense, who has claimed that Jackson caused his own death by self administering both oral lorazepam and oral and/or IV propofol. It is highly technical testimony, with large amounts of medical and scientific jargon and principles which cannot help but confuse the jury at times.

Law Med will go through the evidence and testimony in order to simplify and clarify what is becoming. in our view, intentionally muddled by the defense. We don’t blame them, since it may be their only hope of getting Murray off. The facts are certainly of little use towards that end. Even though we are ‘simplifying’ the information, it is still intensive to digest. Read some, take … (Continued…)

Propofol Explained: Factual Expert Answers On Jackson Case

October 03, 2011 lawmed 6 Comments

Law Med has suffered through a number of “experts” appearing on international broadcast media and in print who claim to know all about propofol, its administration, its abuse and addiction potential, while at the same time spouting misstated facts or downright nonsense regarding the drug.

First, to bring some perspective as to why Law Med’s opinions are worth a hill of beans, we must humbly state that Law Med is arguably a national expert on the abuse of propofol, and resultant fatal outcomes, as well as propofol addiction, including incidence, physiologic mechanisms and treatment. Law Med has 2 decades of experience administering anesthesia including propofol, peer assistance advisory experience with a national organization of anesthesia professionals, and has published two peer reviewed medical journal articles on the subject, and has been a national contact person for dozens of calls about individuals in crisis from propofol abuse, overdose and addiction. Law … (Continued…)

Nurse Anesthetist Assoc. Warned Propofol Abuse Deadly 3 Days Before Jackson’s Death

October 02, 2011 lawmed No comments

Three days before the death of Michael Jackson from a propofol overdose during abuse of the drug facilitated by his $150,000 per month physician, Conrad Murray, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) warned its members, the medical community and the public that propofol abuse and addiction was a deadly serious matter.

The AANA became concerned when their Peer Assistance Advisor Committee (PAAC), the group charged with supporting the wellness of the members including maintaining a 24/7 Peer Assistance Hotline, identified propofol abuse as a frequent cause of death amongst anesthesia providers nationwide. The PAAC recommended that the AANA take a formal position on the deadly potential of propofol abuse, requiring the drug be secured, and a call for its control.

In a Position Statement (below) entitled “Securing Propofol” published by the organization whose members are the nearly 40,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists in the U.S., the AANA warned of … (Continued…)

Jackson Received More Propofol Than Anyone In Medical History

September 28, 2011 lawmed 2 Comments

Law Med was a little bored, and a little curious after hearing the prosecution in the criminal trial of Michael Jackson’s physician, Conrad Murray, tell the jury in opening statements that Murray was ordering GIGANTIC monthly supplies of propofol and other medications which he used to ‘sedate’ his patient on a nightly basis.

Doing some rough calculations in my head it began to dawn on me that Jackson, if the prosecutions assertions are true, was receiving a higher dose of propofol, and for a longer time, than any patient in medical history.

Correct administration dosage of propofol is calculated by body weight. Each ml of propofol contains 10mg of the drug. There are 1000 mcg in 1 mg. According to the autopsy report, Jackson weighed 61 kg. The recommended dose calculations for desired effects are as follows:

Sedation 25-100 mcg/kg/min which for Jackson was 9-37 ml/hr

Induction of general anesthesia … (Continued…)

Jackson Propofol Homicide Trial Begins September 26

August 13, 2011 lawmed No comments

Jury selection begins September 8 in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson’s former personal physician. Murray is charged with causing the death of Jackson after administering the anesthetic propofol to the pop star as treatment for his chronic insomnia.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor has set September 26 as the trial date saying “I want to keep a short leash on this case”. While the prosecution will be arguing that Murray, through his reckless administration of the dangerous anesthetic directly caused Jackson’s demise, the defense is expected to argue that Jackson himself caused his own death by administering additional doses of the drug while Murray was out of the room.

Last December the DEA published a proposed rule to classify propofol as a Schedule IV controlled substance. After soliciting public comments the DEA has yet to act on its own proposal for the last eight … (Continued…)

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