Brittany Murphy Drugs Pneumonia News Unveiled

By: Bill Waters
02/04/2010 03:00 PM ET

The Los Angeles County coroner released its results on how Brittany Murphy died. The primary cause of her death was pneumonia, but there are other factors as well. The secondary factors were iron-deficiency anemia and multiple drug intoxication.

“If she died of pneumonia, that cause of death is a natural cause,” Dr. Michael Baden, the former chief medical examiner in New York City, said in a statement. Baden said the coroner’s determination indicated drugs probably played a key role in Murphy’s death. He also said the use of some prescription medications can lead to flu-like symptoms, and that the coroner’s office may have listed that as the primary cause to lessen the blow to Murphy’s family. “It sounds more like it’s a drug-related than a natural pulmonary pneumonia,” said Baden, who did not work on the case but has served as an expert witness in numerous high-profile deaths.

The county coroner’s office ruled her death as accidental. Details on the quantity of prescriptions found in her system will be released in several weeks following a complete report. A memorial for a foundation in her name was planned today but was abruptly canceled with no explanation.

The actress died of a massive heart attack. The coroner’s statement indicated that the cause of death was accidental caused by “community acquired pneumonia,” iron deficiency anemia, and multiple drug intoxication. However, according to other news reports, her system had prescription medications to treat her flu.

Murphy died on December 20 at age 32. She had collapsed at her Hollywood Hills home. Her mother and husband have said the actress didn’t abuse prescription medications or have an eating disorder.

Simon Monjack, Murphy’s husband, and mother, Sharon Murphy, told investigators the actress had been experiencing flu-like symptoms in the days before she died. Monjack also said that his wife did take several prescriptions, including an anti-seizure drug, but did not abuse the medications. He said she had been taking over-the-counter Robitussin for her recent sickness.

Coroner’s Office Tries To Fill Crucial Medical History Gaps

The county coroner’s office is trying to fill in some crucial gaps in her medical history. According to sources familiar with matter, the actress was suffering from severe anemia and was under a doctor’s care. The Coroner’s office received media files from her doctor, but according to the files, her last visit was months before her untimely death.

The pathologist assigned to the case was told by family and friends that other doctors treated her during her final months. The coroner’s office is now looking for the other doctors to figure out her medical condition that led up to her death. The pathologist wants to know what medications that may have been prescribed by the other physicians.

However, the full toxicology report is not complete. Once these reports are finished it will reveal what prescriptions were in her system at the time of her death. It was first reported that investigators found numerous medications in Murphy’s system at the time of her death, but it will be several weeks before the coroner will release the completed report.

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