R.I.P. Heath Ledger

[MARLOWE TIGER]

Heath Ledger’s Family Responds

Wed, 06 February 2008

Heath Ledger’s father, Kim, just released a statement on behalf of the Ledger family in response to the Medical Examiner’s findings:
“We remain humble as parents and a family, among millions of people worldwide who may have suffered the tragic loss of a child. Few can understand the hollow, wrenching, and enduring agony parents silently suffer when a child predeceases them. Today’s results put an end to speculation, but our son’s beautiful spirit and enduring memory will forever remain in our hearts. While no medications were taken in excess, we learned today the combination of doctor-prescribed drugs proved lethal for our boy. Heath’s accidental death serves as a caution to the hidden dangers of combining prescription medication, even at low dosage.
“Our family enjoyed an extremely happy two week visit with Heath just prior to the New Year. Those recent precious days will stay with us forever. We as a family feel privileged to have some of his amazing magic moments captured in film. To most of the world Heath was an actor of immeasurable talent and promise. To those who knew him personally, Heath was a consummate artist whose passions also included photography, music, chess and directing. We knew Heath as a loving father, as our devoted son, and as a loyal and generous brother and friend.
“We treasure our beautiful granddaughter Matilda (to our dear Michelle) as well as an unbelievably wonderful network of close friends, forever, around the world. Families rarely experience the uplifting, warm and massive outpouring of grief and support as have we, from every corner of the planet. This has deeply and profoundly touched our hearts and lives. We are eternally grateful.
“At this moment we respectfully request the worldwide media allow us time to grieve privately, without the intrusions associated with press and photography.”
jjared

 

[m.j.]

xanax is for panic attacks, valium is for sleeping,like a chill pill... so it is not the same...
he probably already had weak heart.
xanax will not make u sleepy.

 

[smartarse]

Er, yeah, I got that. I was referring to the sad state Hollywood is in with dealing with drugs. Even if he had committed suicide, I'm 99.9% percent sure they would have said it was an accidental overdose. Not that I believe he killed himself, but I do believe he was abusing drugs. I guess I'm jaded after working in the business for so long. They cover so much up, and it just enables their behavior.

i was referring to the medical examiner's statement not from his publicist.

but I do believe he was abusing drugs. I guess I'm jaded after working in the business for so long. They cover so much up, and it just enables their behavior

the industry is known to have such recreational activity. and really now, do you think they'll make a statement to the public that "yes, we all do such activity, yada yada yada"? you all know it through blind items and gossips. that's the only way it gets out to the public or if someone with conscious that is connected to the industry blatantly say it. other than that the entertainment industry always turn a blind eye.

 

[Boluda]

i also believe they are covering him up

it looks better to say he died "accidentaly" of prescription drugs than saying he snorted enough coke to choke a moose

 

[iluvjeisa]

He died of prescription medication that NO SANE DOCTOR would give one person. Hydrocodone is Vicodin, a semi-synthetic opi**e. So is Oxy, only 50% stronger or more. This death is primarily due to those two medications. They are NOTORIOUS for suppressing breathing and just like their street drug cousin - guess who - leading to death - if taken in too large quantities. It's probably the number 1 reason for the death of healthy young people who pass suddenly.

It could VERY WELL be accidental. These drugs are STRONG, especially Oxy. There is no reason he should have taken both Hydro and Oxy at once except if he wanted to "feel good".

 

[inhirnamy137]

That was alot of drugs in his system, I don't think one Dr. give him all those prescriptions, sadly this type of death is common...you have to be really careful. I notice they accused of him abusing ..

 

[LoveLetter]

He had prescription drugs from Europe and U.S.
But aren't doctors supposed to ask you what meds you are taking before giving any new prescription meds?

I will take the medical examiner's report as the final word.
People should stop any speculations.

 

[inhirnamy137]

(People.com)

DR. Hunter also said it is highly unlikely a doctor would have allowed Ledger to take all the different types of drugs in his system (though another doctor, Vatsal Thakkar, a psychiatrist at NYU Medical Center, tells PEOPLE that it could be "sloppy prescribing"). Either way, "This is a dangerous mixture of drugs," said Hunter. "We are seeing more and more people dying of poly-drug intoxication from prescription drugs and it usually a combination of the narcotic-type drugs seen here."

Hunter said it's important to note that the Medical Examiner officially ruled the death an accident, which means they must have ruled out suicide. He also said they officially determined his death was caused by the "abuse" of prescription drugs, which is telling.

"When they use the term abuse it tells us that he used drugs to obtain an intoxicant effect and not for a therapeutic reason. They must have determined through their investigation that the drugs were not for therapeutic use."

 

[lollicandy]

I'm glad the truth finally has come out, but I have to say that I'm shocked.

^^Yes, doctors ask you what other meds you are on, and prescribe accordingly.
However, the important thing is that they are acting on good faith especially in lieu of a patient not sending previous medical records to them etc. They trust what you tell them is the truth, which frankly does not always happen. This is just what I thought, which is he was in different countries and picked up different rx.

Frankly, I'm irritated by the fact that doctors keep being blamed for this because its just as much part of a patient's responsibility to be honest and know what's going on. If you have any hesitation you tell your doctor, and if you still don't understand or like what's going on you change doctors. And I agree with iluvjeisa, I cannot believe any sane doctor would prescribe all those meds for someone with just insomnia at the same time. Its very easy to lie to each doctor and get a new rx. The doctor isn't going to twist your arm behind you back and make you tell the truth.

He abused the drugs and he had an accidental overdose is what I am choosing to believe. And to me the fault lies with Heath. Although now, I would love to know whether the bottles they found in the apartment match up with the toxicology findings (ie, was anything present in his system not present in the apartment).

It's still sad, and I feel terrible for his family and daughter.

 

[inhirnamy137]

I'm glad the truth finally has come out, but I have to say that I'm shocked.

^^Yes, doctors ask you what other meds you are on, and prescribe accordingly.
However, the important thing is that they are acting on good faith especially in lieu of a patient not sending previous medical records to them etc. They trust what you tell them is the truth, which frankly does not always happen. This is just what I thought, which is he was in different countries and picked up different rx.

Frankly, I'm irritated by the fact that doctors keep being blamed for this because its just as much part of a patient's responsibility to be honest and know what's going on. If you have any hesitation you tell your doctor, and if you still don't understand or like what's going on you change doctors. And I agree with iluvjeisa, I cannot believe any sane doctor would prescribe all those meds for someone with just insomnia at the same time. Its very easy to lie to each doctor and get a new rx. The doctor isn't going to twist your arm behind you back and make you tell the truth.

He abused the drugs and he had an accidental overdose is what I am choosing to believe. And to me the fault lies with Heath. Although now, I would love to know whether the bottles they found in the apartment match up with the toxicology findings (ie, was anything present in his system not present in the apartment).

It's still sad, and I feel terrible for his family and daughter.

On CNN a Pathologist said one of the drugs was an over the counter sleeping aide..I don't remember which one.

Well I feel bad for his family...but aleast they have some answers and can move forward.

 

[smartarse]

holy mack. TMZ obtained the official toxicology report. they must have alot of spies everywhere.

http://www.aolcdn.com/tmz_documents/0206_ledger_wm.pdf

 

[inhirnamy137]

(People.com)

<H1 class="">Report: Feds to Probe Heath Ledger's Drug Supply

</H1>

With the autopsy results for Heath Ledger now a matter of public record, the federal government is reportedly stepping in to determine how the actor was able to obtain so many prescription drugs, according to TV Guide.com.

New York City's Chief Medical Examiner on Wednesday announced that the 28-year-old actor's Jan. 22 death was accidentally caused by "the combined effects of Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Diazepam, Temazepam, Alprazolam, and Doxylamine."

The Drug Enforcement Administration will now probe how Ledger obtained the various drugs. Oxycodone is a painkiller, Hydrocodone is also known as Vicodin, Diazepam is commonly called Valium, Temazepam treats anxiety or sleeplessness, Alprazolam is known as Xanax, and Doxylamine is a sedating antihistamine often used as a sleep aid.

 

[LUXXX]

well with all those pills...I mean that's not surprising. They probably all shouldn't have been taken at once, but it sounds like he really wanted to sleep so perhaps he was thinking irrationally.

 

[iluvjeisa]

The top two on the list would never be prescribed for anything but pain. Especially oxycontin would not be prescribed for anything but a broken leg, cancer pain or hellish migraine.

They are terrible sleeping aids because they also induce euphoria, itching and overpowering nausea. In addition, in order to achieve the same effect, they have to be ever increased (the body develops tolerance). To the point where the body can't handle it, resulting in death.

In fact, someone taking oxy and hydro may need antihistamines (for the itching) and sleeping aids.

 

[Kate_Moore]

I've just read in a spanish mag that MK Olsen could be involved in Heath's death.. could anyone tell me the true thing about that?

 

[iluvjeisa]

Same doctors probably.

 

[inhirnamy137]

I don't think he took all 6 pills at once ( well I hope), I think he must of taken the all over a number of hours..maybe he took 2 in the morning, 2 in the afternoon, 2 in the afternoon,Possible he took them over the course of a few days..and they all were still in his system at the time of death

 

[christina126]

xanax is for panic attacks, valium is for sleeping,like a chill pill... so it is not the same...
he probably already had weak heart.
xanax will not make u sleepy.

They are the same. They're both benzodiazapines (as was the temazepam) which are used for both anxiety and sleep disorders! They both have very sedating effects, as do the painkillers, and obviously the actual sleep med. I know all this cuz its actually my job. The only thing I can think of for this not being caught by a medical professional is that he was getting the prescriptions from different doctors and different pharmacies. And even if he didn't take them all at the same exact time, they're effects can linger for awhile thus accumulating. So all together they would cause him to stop breathing.

 

[wrngco]

If he got a DR to prescribe him vicodin in europe and oxycontin in the USA and same for xanax and valium..CNN was saying how the stem of your brain stops working

 

[lostinemotion]

i also believe they are covering him up

it looks better to say he died "accidentaly" of prescription drugs than saying he snorted enough coke to choke a moose

trust me, the medical office can't keep their mouth shut, there is no way that they would be allowed to cover up the truth.
stop being so negative and dark.