The Second Autopsy

Here's how you make sure you get the results you want:

The Jackson family has hired a private pathologist who completed a second autopsy on the performer's body today, according to sources familiar with the case.

The second autopsy came a day after an initial examination by the L.A. County coroner’s office did not immediately determine a cause of death. Officials said additional lab tests, including a toxicology screen, were required to uncover why the 50-year-old pop starwent into cardiac arrest in his rented Holmby Hills mansion Thursday.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who visited the performer’s family Friday, said in a “Good Morning America” interview today that his relatives had a host of questions about the circumstances of his death. He indicated the key area of concern had to do with Jackson’s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, who was by his side when he stopped breathing.

"When did the doctor come? What did he do? Did he inject him? If so, with what?" Jackson said. "Was he on the scene twice? Before and then reaction to? Did he use the Demerol? It's a very powerful drug. Was he injected once? Was he injected twice?"

I have a comment, but it's pretty well summed up by my buddy Dale from Texas who sent me his thoughts:

Jackson family gets private autopsy after official, county autopsy. I predict this is so they can then dispute the findings of the county coroner. Jackson most likely died of some type of drug influence, the Jackson camp will spin this thing to make him look better. Also, they may try to pin the abundance of drugs that will me found in Jackson's body on the good Doctor, so as to make MJ appear as the poor victim, rather than the broken, drug addicted, wacko (regretfully) he was...

Yep.

A couple of other interesting things are going on. Notice how fast Jesse Jackson tried to jump in front of this parade? And the news is reporting that Al Sharpton says the family wants to organize a series of memorials to take place all around the world. Why would Jesse and Al be involved in this case? There's no racial angle that I can see (both Jackson and the doctor were black). I'm guessing both are seeing a wonderful opportunity for free publicity, not to mention the possibility of raking in a fortune on the memorial to come.

I wonder if one of these days soon we'll hear that Jesse and Al got into a wrestling match in the driveway of the Jackson compound in Encino over who is going to give the featured eulogy at the memorial services.

The whole thing is sure to be a circus before it's all over.

You might want to read this article too. There's some pretty interesting background on Jackson's last few years that I haven't heard in the mainstream press.