Virtual deep-dive into Prince’s death headlines Melbourne Law Week activities
The accidental overdose of beloved musician Prince sent shockwaves around the world, but no one was ever charged over the tragedy. As a part of Melbourne Law Week, a panel of experts will dissect the death – and life – of the pop superstar.
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Just six weeks after Prince finished his first Australian solo tour in 2016 the superstar was found dead in his Paisley Park compound in Minneapolis.
His accidental overdose on the opioid fentanyl was a shock considering the 57-year-old musician was doing two shows a night of his Piano and a Microphone tour in Australia, had started writing his autobiography and was in the midst of the US leg of his tour.
However, behind the scenes, Prince had a personal doctor helping him deal with pain from a hip replacement in 2010 — the product of years of leaping around on stage in high heels.
Prince’s doctor and bodyguard would access strong pain killer Percocet (oxycodone) for him. But a police investigation found in his last day Prince had taken a counterfeit Vicodin (hydrocodone) pill that contained fentanyl — which many believe he had no idea he was ingesting.
Tragically he was due to meet an addiction specialist the day after he died — the specialist’s son called 911 after finding Prince’s body.
Two years after his death, an investigation could not find enough evidence to charge anyone with a crime relating to the death (counterfeit pills are a major issue in the opioid crisis), and that the amount of fentanyl in his bloodstream was well above the lethal level.
Melbourne Law Week, which has gone virtual this year, will gather Victorian State Coroner, Judge John Cain; Director of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Professor Noel Woodford; and Chief Toxicologist, Dr Dimitri Gerostamoulos, to discuss the death and life of Prince as part of a free online Zoom inquest.
MC will be Brian Nankervis (RocKwiz), a man fast getting used to virtual events.
“We’re all Zooming, but this a very different way to use the medium,” Nankervis says.
“I’ve done Law Week a few times now, I learn as much as the audience, deep diving into the world of forensic laboratories and medicine.”
Dr Gerostamoulos says fentanyl is not only highly addictive, but 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.
A dose the size of a few grains of sugar can be a lethal.
“It has significant pain relieving ability but is also a very potent respiratory depressant,” Dr Gerostamoulos says.
“Like heroin, it can depress someone’s breathing. It’s really only used for post-operative surgery in a prescribed patch that releases a drug over time.
“They’re really only meant to be worn short term, they’re not for long-time pain management. They’re not prescribed drugs, they’re typically purchased via the dark web.
“But fentanyl has a significant ability to depress the function of the brain, leading to a lack of oxygen in the brain, and can lead to death quite quickly.”
“These high flying entertainers such as Prince or Michael Jackson often have their own doctors, who can write their own scripts. Access to these drugs is not an issue, but whether you’re Prince or Joe Blow, the risks are the same. If you have tainted opioids that means you’re getting them from a non pharmaceutical source and that can lead to fatal outcomes, we see it all the time,” Dr Gerostamoulos says.
Two years after Prince’s death, US rocker Tom Petty — who had suffered a fractured hip and was on heavy painkillers — died of a fentanyl overdose.
He had a prescribed patch, but tablets with illicit derivatives of fentanyl were found at his house.
“If you watch Tom Petty’s final concert he doesn’t look great,” Nankervis says.
“He’s playing and singing well but there’s something fragile about the way he’s carrying himself. That wasn’t the case for Prince it seems. Unless he had the medication perfect and he slipped up, that’s the compelling thing about this case.
“Someone like Prince, he’d pushed himself for decades with constant touring. Imagine the wear and tear on his body with a two or three-hour live show, then he’d go and play an aftershow in a club like Bennetts Lane which he did in Melbourne on one of his tours.
“So we are utterly fascinated by rock deaths, particularly with the mysterious ones. He was a pretty kooky guy, changing his name, we want them to be larger than life. So when their death is mysterious that just adds fuel to the fire.”
Inquest into the Death of The Artist Formerly known as Prince, May 18, 6-7pm,
lawweek.net.au/event/inquest-into-the-death-of-the-artist-formerly-known-as-prince/
Free, bookings essential.
OTHER LAW WEEK HIGHLIGHTS
PLANNING YOUR WILL AND ESTATE
If you’ve never done your will or worked out what would happen to your estate if you were no longer around, this free webinar covers the basics of wills and what happens if you don’t have a will or an estate plan. May 24, 1-2pm
A LEGAL ZOOM INTO ST KILDA CEMETERY
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SHARED PARENTAL CARE DURING COVID-19
This session answers your questions around shared parental care for kids from separated families in lockdown, as well as family dispute resolution and practical tips to ensure that children’s best interest remain the focus. May 18, 3-4pm
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Sidehustle is the new buzzword. Are you planning on becoming a freelancer? Or starting a start-up? Learn your rights and responsibilities. May 20, 12.30-1.30pm
Details: lawweek.net.au
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