M.E. Says Prescription Drugs, Not WTC Dust, Killed Cop

Last week, it was revealed that the NYC medical examiner Dr. Charles Hirsch did not believe WTC dust ultimately killed NYPD Detective Charles Zadroga. Zadroga, who worked rescue and recovery in the World Trade Center debris after September 11, died after a long, protracted battle of a respiratory disease in 2006. Now it turns out that Hirsch thinks Zadroga's death was caused by prescription drug abuse.

Zadroga had been taking a number of pills, and the Times reports Hirsch "concluded that Detective Zadroga had crushed pills and made them into a solution that was injected intravenously into his bloodstream," based on traces of the pills found in his lungs. However, two medical experts, the ME from Ocean County, NJ and an independent expert who was once chief ME in NYC, disagree, saying that the cop's death was from WTC dust.

Zadroga's father Joseph said, "Jimmy never abused drugs. I dispute that. The medical examiner did not report any track marks on his arms or body." He added that his son was so weak that he and his wife had to administer drugs to Zadroga - and that they kept the drugs locked up. The former NYC ME, Dr. Michael Baden, explained to the Daily News, "You could see glass fibers there," referring to examining samples under the microscope, "You don't get that from injecting drugs."

Joseph Zadroga is also upset that the ME's office decided to release this information and thinks it's because he released information about the ME's ruling last week. He told the Post, "I couldn't believe they could come out with that. He threatened us if we said anything to the press."

Zadroga's death was accepted as a September 11 casualty and he received money from the September 11 Victims Compensation fund. His parents are raising his young daughter (Zadroga's wife died during his illness). The Daily News has a withering article about the ME's office decision to smear a 9/11 hero.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on October 26, 2007 8:06 AM

Comments [rss]

Spirit of 76

[4] "This is absolutely disgraceful. How did he get drug particles in his lungs by shooting prescription drugs into his veins."

Is it so incredibly hard to read the articles Gothamist links to before jumping to conclusions? Here, since you're too lazy to go to the Times article:

"Medical experts have been aware for more than two decades that drug abusers who crush tablets — including the painkiller OxyContin — and inject them directly into their veins can develop serious respiratory problems. Powdery materials used to bind tablets, including talc and cellulose, can lodge in the lung capillaries. The body reacts by forming nodules called granulomas, which can eventually reduce lung capacity."

ed_Extinct

*"Jimmy never abused drugs. I dispute that. The medical examiner did not report any track marks on his arms or body."*

Drug abuse has nothing to do with track marks or not... you can abuse prescriptions orally as well.

Murray Hillster

MT said: They are going to be dragged over the coals now for what probably started out as a stunt to sue the city for compensation over this guys death.

That's a pretty despicable thing to say about the family of a 9/11 worker/NYPD Detective, particularly in light of what the Daily News editorial highlights:

"The New Jersey medical examiner who autopsied Zadroga concluded the toxins destroyed his lungs. Dr. Michael Baden, a former city chief medical examiner who is now the state police forensic pathologist, reviewed and confirmed the autopsy findings."

So, both of these guys, two prominent medical examiners, are part of this "stunt"? Please.

Daily News: "And it is a sorry necessity to have to state those words about a dedicated cop and father of a young child, who worked for 450 hours in the thick of the poisonous cloud, began coughing after two weeks and suffered a steady, irrevocable descent to suffocation at age 34."

Yeah, keep believing it's just a "stunt."

son of mike parkinson said: How did he get drug particles in his lungs by shooting prescription drugs into his veins.

As much as I agree with your overall sentiment, the articles note that this is possible and can happen, in theory.

son of mike parkinson

This is absolutely disgraceful. How did he get drug particles in his lungs by shooting prescription drugs into his veins. How did we get to the point where character assassination of first responders is acceptable? Hirsch is a parasite.

nicemarmot

Much as I would usually be inclined to believe the doctor this is the most bizarre cause of death I've ever heard...

MT

The family released his medical records first. It's their own fault this became a public fight. It was extremely stupid on their part IMHO. They are going to be dragged over the coals now for what probably started out as a stunt to sue the city for compensation over this guys death.