Jackson’s dermatologist allegedly self-prescribed drugs
LA Times Blog
August 27, 2009 | 3:49 pm
Michael Jackson¹s friend and dermatologist, Arnold Klein, allegedly
prescribed drugs to himself 27 times over a nearly three-year period,
according to a federal search warrant and affidavit released Thursday.
A Drug Enforcement Administration agent obtained the warrant last week to
search Mickey Fine Pharmacy in Beverly Hills, based on state drug-tracking
reports that showed instances between March 2006 and May 2009 in which Klein
prescribed Valium, Vicodin, the sedative midazolam, and modafinil, a drug
used to improve wakefulness or treat narcolepsy.
Klein introduced Jackson to nurse Debbie Rowe, the pop star¹s ex-wife and
the mother of two of his three children.
Prescribing, administering or furnishing a controlled substance to oneself
is a violation of the California Health and Safety code, experts said. If
the allegations are proved, the DEA could strip Klein of his ability to
prescribe medication, said Special Agent Jose Martinez, a DEA spokesman.
Klein also could lose his medical license and face criminal charges,
Martinez said.
Klein¹s attorney, Garo Ghazarian, declined to comment on the matter until he
had reviewed the documents, but told the DEA that Klein ³has never
self-prescribed,² according to the affidavit. In addition to Klein, several
other doctors also had self-prescribed medication using Mickey Fine
Pharmacy, according to court records.
The owners of Mickey Fine Pharmacy could not be reached for comment. The
pharmacy was often used by Jackson, court records show. In 2005, the pop
star ran up a $101,000 drug bill at the Roxbury Drive store, which he paid
only after the pharmacy filed a lawsuit.
–Kimi Yoshino and Harriet Ryan
Photo: Arnold Klein in 2007.
Credit: Tammie Arroyo / Associated Press