Supported by
Overdose of Drugs Ruled Out as Cause Of Presley's Death
October 22, 1977, Page 31Buy Reprints
MEMPHIS, Oct. 21 (UPI)—Elvis Pres ley did not die from a drug overdose, although prescription drugs were present in his body at the time of his death, the medical examiner who directed an autopsy on the singer's body said today.
Dr. Jerry Francisco issued a statement backing up his original report that Mr. Presley died Aug. 16 from heart failure at age 42.
“The cause of death has been ascribed to hypertensive heart disease, with coronary artery heart disease as a contributing factor,” the report said.
Dr. Francisco issued the statement in response to published reports that 10 prescription drugs, including Demerol and Valium, found in Mr. Presley's body might have contributed to the singer's death.
The medical examiner said that three pathologists and one toxicologist at the University of Tennessee and two other ,toxicologists in other areas had agreedthat “there is no evidence the medication present in the body of Elvis Presley caused or made any significant contribution to his death.”
A third toxicologist, Dr. Francisco said, noted that the medications were in the therapeutic range and individually did not constitute an overdose.
All of the medications found in tissue samples were prescription drugs, the medical examiner said, and an extensive search for illegal drugs turned up no trace.
Dr. George Nichopoulos, Mr. Presley's friend and physician, said that the singer had “abused drugs accidentally” in the past, but said he did not think he had any drug problem.
Dr. Nichopoulos, who pronounced the singer dead after efforts to revive him failed, said that Mr. Presley had been taking medication for his colon, hypertension and a sinus condition.
Mr. Presley had been plagued with health problems long before his death. He had a weight problem during recent years and had been hospitalized four times in five years for treatment of hypertension and an impacted or enlarged colon.
Dr. Nichopoulos said that Mr. Presley had also suffered from mild diabetes and a liver problem.
Advertisement