Michael Jackson's cure for insomnia on tour: A traveling personal anesthesiologist

Karpukhin/AP/AP Michael Jackson performs during the 1996 'HIStory' tour.

Michael Jackson suffered from such an extreme case of insomnia he once traveled with a personal anesthesiologist who plied the sleep-deprived singer with meds and kept an IV pole in his hotel room, it was revealed Friday.

Dr. Neil Ratner regularly helped "take down" and "bring him back up" during the pop icon's HIStory tour in the mid-1990s, sources told CNN.

The revelation adds further evidence to the theory that prescription drugs - including propofol, a powerful sedative administered intravenously - played a role in the pop star's death.

A California nurse has said Jackson begged her for the dangerous drug for months. In a phone call from one of his staffers days before his death, she became convinced he had gotten his hands on some.

Experts say the drug can lead to cardiac arrest, especially when combined with others.

Jackson, 50, died suddenly on June 25 after going into cardiac arrest inside his Bel Air estate.

In the days since, investigators reportedly discovered several types of medication inside Jackson's home. Authorities have yet to determine Jackson's official cause of death, pending toxicology results.

Ratner confirmed that Jackson suffered from a massive sleep disorder, but refused to comment on any of the other allegations.

"It's really something I don't want to talk about right now," he said outside his Woodstock, New York, home Thursday.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is also looking into the role of drugs, two federal law enforcement sources said a day earlier.

Meanwhile, the city of Los Angeles on Friday began gearing up for a monstrous tribute to the fallen pop legend.

After days of intense speculation, a Jackson spokesman announced late Thursday a public memorial would be held Tuesday morning at the Staples Center.

Fans who want to attend the memorial in the 20,000-seat Staples Center in Los Angeles must register for free tickets, said the Jackson family's spokesman, Ken Sunshine. Details on how to do that will be announced Friday.

Although only 11,000 tickets will be available - and there will be a huge rush on them - it's expected many thousands of fans will gather outside the center and on the streets leading to the arena in a massive outpouring of sorrow.

The venue is fitting: Jackson rehearsed at the arena two days before he died.

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just goes to show that money can buy anything...but dr. ratner can kiss his license to practice "buh-bye!"

i'm under the impression that he didn't take care of his body, as in eat right, and exercise - other than his grueling dance routines on tour. he was extreme...

just taking note of all the things recently hashed up, in review, all the things he's gone through...how his mindstate negatively affected him...perhaps he wanted to die...maybe for a while.

"I can't sleep, oh, i'll just hire an anesthesiologist to put me out" WHOAH! I remember when I had surgery, the doc, nurse and anesthesiologist had me sign something and took me through this talk saying how high risk anesthesiology is and that I may not come out it. The release I had to sign in order to get my surgery, releases the individual practictioners and the hospital of any liablility should that happen.

He was cressy. I mean, it's easy to laugh at him, but it's also as easy to think about his life, as portrayed by the media, and recall all the stories, videos, song lyrics, the themes of all his works....everything. ..and be as easily sadden and drawn to tears.

I wasn't paying much attendtion to this, at first. When he announced his tour weeks ago, I was like "Oh, well..." As a former die hard fan, I just was over him and his image, his weirdness...and got over wondering WHY? But I've been thinking about this over the past coupled days. Like, wow, this dude took a mental trip to the crazy zone. Reminds me when I'd ask my cousin "Where are you going?", and they'd say "Crazy, wanna come?"...He went to his specific crazy all by himself, and no one intervened. All those brothers, sisters - all that family he had...they came up together...and no one noticed...no one had the sense to do something....or just there for him, not just THERE for him, but there in a certain way. I know what it's like for someone to be THERE, but useless at the same time. Not helpful...

Was it lack of knowledge, education...ignoranc e...neglect...jealou sy...competition...c omplacency?

We may never know.

But he sure was fine...DAMN!

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I have insomnia really bad at times, so this really scares me. Anyone who has had to deal with chronic sleep deprivation knows what I'm talking about..

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I was in my hotel room watching CNN last night and saw Ratner on tv...he kept saying "no comment" and my friend yelled out "GUILTY". This whole thing is crazy.

Maybe he was put to sleep by anesthetics the night before he died by Dr Murray.

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Maybe so, hes not trained to do so. Atleast this Dr. Ratner is a trained Anesthetic.

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I Michael thought who ever gave him that medication was just as qualified as Dr. Ratner. He underestimated them. I think thats the reason he pressed for Dr. Murray to be his doctor on this tour, who would you think would be more qualified to save your life if you went into cardiac arrest but a cardologist.

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[QUOTE=guaptina;41329 75]i'm under the impression that he didn't take care of his body, as in eat right, and exercise - other than his grueling dance routines on tour. he was extreme...

just taking note of all the things recently hashed up, in review, all the things he's gone through...how his mindstate negatively affected him...perhaps he wanted to die...maybe for a while.

"I can't sleep, oh, i'll just hire an anesthesiologist to put me out" WHOAH! I remember when I had surgery, the doc, nurse and anesthesiologist had me sign something and took me through this talk saying how high risk anesthesiology is and that I may not come out it. The release I had to sign in order to get my surgery, releases the individual practictioners and the hospital of any liablility should that happen.


I wasn't paying much attendtion to this, at first. When he announced his tour weeks ago, I was like "Oh, well..." As a former die hard fan, I just was over him and his image, his weirdness...and got over wondering WHY? But I've been thinking about this over the past coupled days. Like, wow, this dude took a mental trip to the crazy zone. Reminds me when I'd ask my cousin "Where are you going?", and they'd say "Crazy, wanna come?"...He went to his specific crazy all by himself, and no one intervened. All those brothers, sisters - all that family he had...they came up together...and no one noticed...no one had the sense to do something....or just there for him, not just THERE for him, but there in a certain way. I know what it's like for someone to be THERE, but useless at the same time. Not helpful...

i don't think MJ was crazy, i think he was tired. And he became addicted to painkillers as alot of people do. didn't Eminem just say he was addicted to painkillers as well and he had to get help, all i know is I never want to try no oxycontin cause that ish is getting folks hooked like crazy. but I don't think he took care of himself, he ate only one meal a day. and his family and friends did try to intervene but MJ was addicted, so that's that....he's in no more pain now

When i heard the nurse talking about how mike would pay whatever for someone to get him dipravan ..... i knew what time it was ... smh its jus too sad for words and these doctors are being bought off left and right ...

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