Questions on Jackson's painkillers - and doctor

First came surprise, then mystery. But as the investigation into Michael Jackson's death moves into its fourth day, with attention focused on his complex private medical arrangements, the singer's family and fans have started to betray the first, inevitable signs of a third emotion: anger.

The King of Pop suffered a cardiac arrest on Friday, less than 45 minutes after Dr Conrad Murray, his personal physician, is reported to have administered an injection of Demerol (pethidine), a synthetic painkiller similar to morphine, which the singer apparently called his "health tonic".

Jackson, who was 50 years old and weighed just 57kg, is believed to have been blithely taking as many as eight prescription drugs a day. They included other painkillers, Dilaudid and Vicodin, which are dangerous in large quantities and should never be mixed with other pharmaceuticals.

The painkillers have side effects ranging from light-headedness and sweating to constipation, nausea and respiratory depression.

Murray, who presided over this regime, described himself as a "cardiovascular specialist".

Police have stressed that the physician is not the subject of a criminal investigation. But they nonetheless were yesterday interviewing him, in the company of a lawyer, to establish exactly what happened.

A transcript of the 911 call reveals he unsuccessfully administered CPR.

"The doctor's been the only one here," an unidentified caller from Jackson's home told the emergency operator. "He's pumping, he's pumping his chest but he's not responding to anything, sir!"

Murray accompanied Jackson to UCLA Medical Centre, where he died after failing to regain consciousness. He managed to disappear briefly when police first tried to speak to him.

Records reveal Murray suffered years of financial troubles. His Nevada medical practice was recently slapped with more than US$400,000 ($619,940) in court judgments, and he faces at least two other pending lawsuits and several unpaid tax bills.

Murray, 51, has never been subjected to disciplinary action, according to available public records. He told patients : "Because of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I have had to ... cease practice of medicine." That opportunity is thought to have been his appointment as Jackson's doctor for the upcoming stint in London.

Former friends said Jackson had been surrounded by "enablers" who allowed him to fuel his addiction to painkillers. Tarak Ben Ammar, a former manager, described him as a hypochondriac who for years had been taken advantage of by "charlatan doctors".

A leading London doctor said that Jackson's cocktail of drugs was a "ticking time bomb" that made his early death inevitable. Professor Steve Field said the lethal mix meant it was likely Jackson had already suffered "near misses".

Field, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said it was inconceivable that the star would have been able to perform at the 50 scheduled concerts at the O2.

Jackson would have developed an addiction to Demerol and reached a point where he needed it to get "an absence of a low". Over the years he would have needed higher doses, more often. "Without it you start getting withdrawal effects - extreme anxiety, stress, sweatiness, irritability and tiredness. He would have felt horrible."

Any muscle relaxants would slow his respiration and reduce levels of consciousness while anti-depressants would depress the nervous system.

Yesterday Jackson's family members gathered at their home in Encino to arrange a funeral.

They want to know exactly what role AEG Live, the concert promoter responsible for the O2 events, had been playing in his life. AEG Live chief executive Randy Phillips has admitted that Murray was being paid by the firm, but insists he was hired at Jackson's request.

Autopsy results will not be fully revealed until toxicology tests have come through, which could take six weeks. A source at the coroner's office told Fox News that there were no obvious signs of heart disease. That leads investigators to believe some sort of drug or drug combination caused either the heart to stop beating or the lungs to stop breathing.

PLAYERS IN THE DRAMA

THE PARENTS

Joseph Jackson
The ultimate pushy parent, Joe Jackson, 79, says "the truth" surrounding his son's death is still to be told. Joe's strict regime of rehearsals could include painful punishments if Michael messed up a song. He told the BBC in 2003: "I never beat him. I whipped him with a switch and a belt. I never beat him. You beat someone with a stick."

Katherine Jackson
The rock of the Jackson clan and Michael's closest family confidant, Katherine, 79, was the only relative in court when Michael was acquitted of child molestation charges in 2005. She played an important role in bringing up six sons and three daughters - and was said to have spotted Michael's talent. She staunchly defended her son against criticism during the 1990s.

THE ENTOURAGE

Dr Conrad Murray
Jackson's personal doctor. According to the 911 emergency call he was the only witness to the singer's collapse. He is said to have injected Jackson with a dose of the painkiller Demerol shortly before his cardiac arrest and to have tried unsuccessfully to revive him. Temporarily disappeared afterwards.

Dr Tohme Tohme
Another personal doctor, who also claims to be Jackson's official spokesman and manager. In December he said that Jackson was in fine health.

Frank DiLeo
Managed the singer during his golden years from 1984 to 1989 but was forced out in a power struggle between lawyers and record executives. Remained loyal and spoke up for Jackson during his child abuse trial. The former kingpin at Epic Records is believed to have returned as Jackson's manager this year.

Lou Ferrigno
The former Incredible Hulk actor had been a friend of Jackson for 15 years, according to his wife, Carla, and had been overseeing his workout schedule. The regime is said to have been tailored to Jackson's delicate frame and reluctance to bulk up.

Randy Phillips
President and chief executive of AEG Live, the company that tried to tempt Jackson back to the stage for years, finally succeeding with the O2 deal. Phillips defended the extension of Jackson's run from 10 dates to 50, saying Jackson had passed extensive health checks. Jackson told fans he went to bed having signed up to do 10, but woke to news that he was doing 50.

THE CHILDREN

Prince Michael I Jackson, 12
The eldest child by Debbie Rowe, 50, who was a nurse when the couple met. She became pregnant with Prince Michael - reportedly by artificial means - six months before they married in 1996. In 1998 came a daughter, Paris. Six months later, Rowe filed for divorce, accepting a payoff of US$6.9 million to give up rights to the children, although she is seeking to have her rights restored.

Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11
Until this year, she had rarely been seen in public without a covering on her face.

Prince Michael II Jackson, 7
Prince Michael II, "Blanket", was infamously dangled over a balcony with a blanket over his head as a baby. He is the son of an anonymous surrogate mother, who is believed to have given up all parental rights. He is the godson of one of the singer's financial advisers, Alvin Malnik, who claims he signed a document saying that if Jackson died he would care for Blanket as his own child.

- INDEPENDENT, OBSERVER