Although no illegal drugs were found inside his apartment, the AP reports that six different types of prescription drugs were found and that three of the drugs were prescribed to the Heath Ledger in Europe. The medication included sleeping and anti-anxiety pills and an antihistamine.
NYC’s Medical Examiner spokerwoman has told People that Heath Ledger’s “autopsy was inconclusive.We have to do further testing including toxicology and tissue testing. Neither cause of death or manner of death has been concluded. We expect additional results in 10 days to two weeks.”
Ledger did have pneumonia at the time of his death, but Michael Baden, a prominent forensic pathologist not involved with the investigation, says that “if the pneumonia had been the cause of the actor’s death, that would have been evident in Wednesday’s initial results, given that it is “readily identifiable at the time of autopsy, because the lungs, instead of being filled with air, are filled with fluid, and we die from pneumonia because we can’t breathe.”
Baden continues,
I would assume under the circumstances that if he’d die of pneumonia that would be clearly stated, because of concerns from the family.
My interpretation [of inconclusive] means they didn’t find a proper cause of death. That kind of rules out the natural causes, such as a brain hemorrhage, pneumonia or a cardiac abnormality that is common in that age group. That leaves drug overdose as the most likely cause of death.
That still needs an interpretation as to intentional or unintentional, but that’s done by gathering information about his mental health and his recreational activities by interviewing physicians, neighbors, friends and family.
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Medicines can combine to have lethal consequences. The American public is overmedicated, especially in Hollywood.
Agreed. Yet the American public is overworked, and insufficiently rested (especially those in Hollywood [filming can often go for 12 hours or longer]), which can give rise to anxiety, and being more prone to illness. I’d probably need anti anxiety medicine if I had pneumonia…it’s hard to breathe! Whatever the cause of his death, my heart goes out to his family and friends, and especially to his daughter, Matilda, and her Mother.