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[Edward]

The coroner finds that pneumonia was the primary cause of Brittany's death.

yahoo news

Coroner: Pneumonia, drugs killed Brittany Murphy
Writer Anthony Mccartney, Ap Entertainment Writer – 46 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Brittany Murphy died from pneumonia, but anemia and prescription drugs also played a role, coroner's officials said Thursday.

The primary cause of the death was community acquired pneumonia, with contributing factors of iron deficiency anemia and "multiple drug intoxication," according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

The death was ruled accidental.

Coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey declined to specify what types of drugs were involved in Murphy's death but said they were all prescription medications. Details about the drugs the "Clueless" and "8 Mile" star had in her system will be released in several weeks when a complete report is done.

Murphy died Dec. 20 at age 32 after collapsing at her Hollywood Hills home. Her mother and husband have said the actress didn't abuse prescription medications or have an eating disorder.

Attempts to reach them for further comment were unsuccessful.

Murphy's husband, Simon Monjack and mother, Sharon Murphy, told investigators the actress had been experiencing flu-like symptoms in the days before she died.

Monjack told The Associated Press last month that his wife did take several prescriptions, including an anti-seizure drug, but did not abuse the medications.

He said she had been taking over-the-counter Robitussin for her ailments.

A memorial for a foundation in Brittany Murphy's name that had been planned for Thursday was abruptly canceled, with no explanation.

[Edward]

People

Coroner: Brittany Murphy's Death Was Preventable
By Ken Lee

Update Thursday February 04, 2010 02:45 PM EST

Brittany Murphy could still be alive today had she seen a doctor sooner, a Los Angeles coroner official says.

"This death could've been preventable," Assistant Chief Ed Winter tells PEOPLE. "Murphy was planning on seeing a doctor, but she unfortunately passed away before she did. This was a case of a person with pneumonia who was anemic (having a low blood count) who was taking medication when she should've been getting medical treatment."

Winter confirms that no illegal drugs were found in the actress's system: "It was only prescription and over-the-counter meds," he said.

In an interview with PEOPLE last month Murphy’s husband Simon Monjack maintained that his wife had visited a doctor. "I took very good care of my wife … She was on an antibiotic and she was taking cough medicine and doing all the right things," he said.

Winter tells PEOPLE that Murphy "had been sick for several days, and the last time she saw a doctor was awhile ago."

He added, "Her husband and mom had been sick for a few days, and they were getting over it when [Murphy] got it."

Regarding concern from Murphy's friends that Monjack should be investigated, Winter said: "He was never considered a suspect. No one's criminally liable here because this has been ruled an accident."

[jen]

Thanks for posting this.

[Edward]

IMDB

Monjack: 'Murphy Knew She Was Dying'
6 February 2010 6:01 AM, PST
 
Brittany Murphy told her mother Sharon she loved her the morning of her passing - because the actress knew she was dying, according to her widower.

The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office ruled earlier this week the Clueless star's primary cause of death was pneumonia, with contributing factors of anaemia and "multiple drug intoxication".

Her husband Simon Monjack believed the 32 year old had contracted laryngitis, and he and Murphy's mum were nursing in their shared Hollywood Hills home, expecting her to make a full recovery.

But Monjack insists Murphy knew she was dying the morning she suffered a fatal cardiac arrest on 20 December - and reached out to her mum to bid farewell.

He tells U.S. talk show host Larry King, "Her last days were full of the Academy (Award) screeners (DVDs), being in a soft, pink, fluffy Beverly Hills robe, mama coming and bringing soup and laying in - and laying on the sofa next to the bed.

"What happened that day (she died) was Brittany had laryngitis. I have no idea what to do with laryngitis. I'm a rabbi, not a doctor, so I pray instead of prescribe. So I asked Sharon to come down. We'd been talking, anyway, half the night... We were planning to move to New York, have a baby... We were talking about baby names.

"I asked Sharon to come down and Sharon came down. Brittany, for the first time, was almost fighting for air. Her eyes were not right. They were darting off left, right and center.

"That morning she woke up (and) she couldn't breathe. She went out to get some air. Sharon followed her out. I'll say this, because I know you (Sharon) can't. She said, 'Mom, I'm dying. I love you.'"

Murphy's mum Sharon adds, "From when she collapsed, I was with her in the bathroom. And I was sitting across from her with her little puppy, Clara. And she said, 'Mommy, please hug me.' And I went to get up and she just collapsed like right there."

Sharon Murphy and Monjack's comments were made in an interview before the L.A. Coroner declared the star's cause of death.

[Edward]

People

Brittany Murphy's Husband: She Didn't Seem That Sick
By Sara Hammel
Update Friday February 05, 2010 09:40 AM EST

Brittany Murphy's husband, Simon Monjack, says his wife was "not that ill" whe she died on Dec. 20 in the Hollywood Hills home they shared with her mother, Sharon.

Monjack told PEOPLE he was "ridiculously upset" on Thursday – the day the L.A. coroner released findings saying Murphy died primarily from pneumonia, with multiple drug intoxication and "iron deficiency anemia" as contributing to her accidental death. No illegal drugs were found in her system.

"Everything [surprised me and Brittany's mom about the report]," he told PEOPLE. "I expected [the cause of death] to be her heart."

Monjack and Sharon Murphy have said they believed Brittany's death was due to a congenital heart murmur, and denied rumors that the actress used illegal drugs or suffered from an eating disorder. They added that Murphy's heart condition was diagnosed in her teens, but said she had received proper treatment for it.

Monjack said Thursday that Brittany didn't seem very sick on the day she died. She was "not that ill," he said. "She wasn't coughing up. I've had pneumonia and coughed up handfuls of spittle. So yeah, everything surprised us, everything."

Asked about the coroner's assertion that his wife's death could have been prevented if she'd just gone to the doctor sooner, Monjack said, "I don't know what he said so I don't want to comment on what I haven't seen."

For him, a chapter has ended. "Case closed," said Monjack. "As the coroner said, there's no foul play."

Regarding concern from Murphy's friends that Monjack should be investigated, the coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter told PEOPLE: "He was never considered a suspect. No one's criminally liable here because this has been ruled an accident."

[jamesleetaylor]

It's so sad, bless Brittany's heart. 

Thank you for posting these.

[BrittanyIloveu]

When I read this, I can't stop swelling! I feel this empty hole in my heart that there has been ever since Britt died, and it is just getting bigger and bigger when reading this. I feel with Simon, Sharon and the rest of our little angel's family. But especially I feel with Sharon, this must be heartbreaking for her. I just miss Brittany so terribilly!

[Joella92]

i agree for her mom too

[Edward]

Coroner: Brittany did not abuse drugs or alcohol and wasn't dangerously thin.

People

Brittany Murphy Had No Signs of Drug, Alcohol Abuse
By Ken Lee

Thursday February 25, 2010 05:40 PM EST
 
Putting to rest rumors about Brittany Murphy's health before she died, the Los Angeles Coroner found that the actress did not abuse drugs or alcohol and wasn't dangerously thin.

The final report released Thursday states that Murphy had "elevated levels" of Vicodin and drugs from over-the-counter cold medicine in her system, but no illegal substances.

"There is no history of alcohol or drug abuse," the report reads. "The overall appearance of the body is consistent with the recorded height of 65 inches and the recorded weight of 115 pounds. The body appears well developed, normally muscular and slim but not excessively thin."

Earlier this month, the coroner said pneumonia was the primary cause of death, with multiple drug intoxication and a low-blood count as contributing factors. The coroner concluded her death was an accidental but preventable. Police have repeatedly said that no foul play is suspected.

The Clueless star, 32, was found unresponsive in her Hollywood Hills home on Dec. 20, despite frantic attempts by her husband, Simon Monjack, and her mother, Sharon, to revive her.

[Edward]

^^^ Hopefully, now, the tabloids will let Brittany rest in peace.

[Edward]

Radar online

EXCLUSIVE: Brittany Murphy's Husband Says He's Vindicated By Her Autopsy Report
Posted on Feb 26, 2010 @ 05:50AM

Brittany Murphy's husband Simon Monjack told RadarOnline.com in an exclusive statement that he feels vindicated by the contents of his wife's full autopsy report, which was released Thursday.

Expressing his love for Brittany's family and disgust at the rumors that his wife had used illegal drugs, Simon left no doubt about his ongoing love for Brittany and thanked everyone who supported him through this difficult time. It was a highly emotional day for Simon, who said he and Brittany's mother both cried.

The autopsy report showed that Brittany did not have illegal drugs in her system and had pneumonia at the time of her passing.

Simon told RadarOnline.com:

"Although Brittany's autopsy report was incredibly shocking and sad to the family, to me, Sharon and I both shed tears. We are vindicated in that we always said Brittany never did any kind of illegal substances and that the medication she was taking was the medication found in her system and we hope now that people will understand the legacy of Brittany Murphy and the incredible body of work of Brittany Murphy.

"As the most maligned man in America, I hope people realize that they shouldn't believe anything they hear and read and I love my wife as much today as I did on the day I married her.

"I am so sad that we are living in a culture of rumor and I just wish that people would understand that sometimes out of every tragedy can come some good. I know Brittany would want to feel the vindication. She never took a drug or a drink and that's been shown. I love her family; the rumors can stop as we grieve our dead loved one and we can get on to grieve.

"I personally thank the thousands of people who have emailed me with condolences; people I've never met, people who have never met me, the people who don't jump to rush decisions. I hope people realize what an incredible mother and friend Sharon is. The rest of the family are so, so devastated but at least the truth was outted, as it always does, and the truth is, unfortunately, Brittany died of pneumonia and the drug intoxication turned out to be Vicks inhaler combined with the menstrual cramp medication that we never denied she took.

"I think it's time for everybody to realize that Brittany was just an incredibly happy, precious angel that lives on through her fans and in our hearts."

[Edward]

IMDb news

Monjack: 'Toxicology Report Clears Murphy's Name'
1 hour ago | WENN
 
Brittany Murphy's widower Simon Monjack is relieved to have finally read the toxicology assessment following his wife's death, insisting the report clears the star's name.

The 32-year-old Clueless actress passed away on 20 December after suffering a cardiac arrest at her Hollywood Hills home.

The tragedy was ruled accidental by officials at the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office earlier this month, with pneumonia listed as the primary cause of death.

Anaemia and "multiple drug intoxication" were also stated as contributing factors, and officials released Murphy's toxicology report on Thursday, identifying all the drugs in her system.

The report stated the star had only been taking medications to treat what she believed was a bout of influenza and she had "no history of alcohol or drug abuse."

Monjack admits he couldn't hold back the tears when reading the report - but he's happy the documents prove his wife was not abusing illegal substances before her untimely death.

He tells Us Weekly magazine, "(I) sobbed and sobbed (when I read the report). I haven't gotten out of bed yet.

"She never did anything that she was accused of! We never hid anything. And that's been the case with everything in our marriage.

"Our marriage was dogged by these ridiculous rumours. Brittany's life was dogged by ridiculous rumours, and the truth always wins out. I hope people have the sense to really understand that everything was beautiful and wonderful in our relationship and so pure."

[Edward]

Gossip Center

Simon Monjack Grieves Loss of Brittany Murphy
Posted February 26th, 2010
 
Still dealing with the pain of losing his wife Brittany Murphy, Simon Monjack told press he could barely keep his composure when reading his late wife’s autopsy report.

Monjack explained that Murphy’s mother Sharon was inconsolable as well. “We both sobbed and sobbed. I haven’t gotten out of bed yet. I pulled the report away from Sharon because I thought I was going to have to sedate her.”

He continued, "She never did anything that she was accused of! We never hid anything. And that's been the case with everything in our marriage. Maybe with her death, people will start to realize - yes, we had a lot of prescriptions around, but if you look at some of them, they date from 2001!"

"Like all deaths, I go over and over and over it. She was dead within two hours of waking up, saying 'My chest is tight. I can't take a breath!' But that was part of her normal menstrual cycle. It was the perfect storm."

I thought this was finally over until I read Simon's quote here: She was dead within two hours of waking up, saying 'My chest is tight. I can't take a breath!' But that was part of her normal menstrual cycle. It was the perfect storm.

Inability to breathe was part of her normal menstrual cycle?  Hmmm.

[BrittanyIloveu]

^^
I share your confusion!

Talking of personal experience (xd) I can say that inability to breath, not is a part of the normal menstrual cycle ... [embarrasing] (:

[STR]

Sounds very strange, and that's putting it mildly. He really should quit giving statements about what happened while he's still ahead. I understand he's trying somehow to save face so to speak, but it seems almost everything he says makes it worse. Shut up Simon please. Giving people reasons to second guess if she could've been saved does not bring her back. The focus should be now on remembering how great she was when she was alive.

Regarding the toxicology report. Well I'm glad they got some sort of absolution on that front. To me personally it means nothing, since it was already quite clear that there was no "foul play". I do not even want to think about the alternative...

P.S.

There's nothing embarrassing about menstrual cycle.