Two doctors who allegedly prescribed powerful painkiller drugs to actor Heath Ledger are being investigated by federal drug authorities in the US. A doctor in California and another in Texas are now under investigation following Ledger's death from an accident drug overdose in January.
The Australian actor, 28, was found dead in his downtown New York apartment on January 22 by a maid and a masseuse.
An autopsy earlier this month blamed an accidental mixture of prescription drugs, said New York City's Chief Medical Examiner.
A federal source told People magazine: "We are investigating doctors in Los Angeles and Texas with regard to Ledger's prescriptions."
However, the source did not say whether any wrongdoing is involved, adding: "We don't know yet. The agents were there this week, and we are waiting to hear from them."
The doctors in question are thought to have supplied Ledger with Oxycontin and Vicodin, law enforcement sources told the New York Daily News.
At issue is whether or not the powerful painkiller were prescribed legally.
The subpoenaing of Ledger's autopsy results by the Drug Enforcement Administration was reported shortly after the findings of the report were announced.
On Febuary 6, it was said that the DEA would look into the source of the actor's prescriptions.
Besides Oxycodone and Vicodin, also known as Hydrocodone, autopsy results also showed that Ledger's system contained Diazepam, commonly called Valiu), as well as Temazepam, which treats anxiety or sleeplessness; Alprazolam (also known as Xanax); and Doxylamine, a sedating antihistamine often used as a sleeping aid.
On February 9, Ledger's former girlfriend, Michelle Williams - who is mother of his two-year-old daughter, Matilda - joined Cate Blanchett, Ledger's family and hundreds of mourners at a memorial in Australia for the actor.
By Nicola Pittam, Feb 28 2008 © Copyright 2008 - Showbiz Spy
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