Doctors sometimes call the anesthesia drug by its nickname -- milk of amnesia. Patients are calling it the "Michael Jackson drug." Ever since propofol was blamed in the iconic singer's death in 2009, patients who seldom asked or cared about what kind of sedation they were getting are suddenly peppering their doctors with questions about it -- prompting doctors to try to restore public confidence in the drug.
"You won't believe how many people with their eyes wide open ask me: 'Are you going to give me the Michael Jackson drug?' They're scared to death," said Dr. H.A. Tillmann Hein, president of the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists.
While some initially balk at going under, fearing they will end up like Jackson, they come around after Hein explains that propofol, widely used for more than 20 years, is safe when used by a trained professional in a hospital or clinic. Propofol expert Dr. Steven Shafer of Columbia University testified Wednesday for the prosecution without a fee, saying he wanted to restore public confidence in doctors who use propofol, which he called "an outstanding drug" when properly administered.
Before Jackson's death, less than 10 percent of patients that Dr. John Dombrowski saw asked about propofol. Now more than half do, mostly about what monitoring safeguards are in place. While doctors are seeing more patients with questions, they say no one has refused care after they are reassured that their situations are different than those of Jackson. About 40 million Americans undergo anesthesia each year, with the majority receiving propofol. Because it is fast-acting and clears quickly from the body, people can return to normal activities sooner than older anesthetics.
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