Prosecution Questions

To begin, could you tell me about your educational background?

Ans: Yes, I received my bachelor’s degree and medical degree from the University of San Francisco. As for my residency in forensic pathology, I served at St. Joseph’s Hospital for six years.

1. And what did you do with your career after finishing your residency?

Ans: After completing my residency I became a licensed pathologist and 15 years ago, I was then appointed as deputy coroner for Rosewood County. I also became the county's chief medical examiner 8 years ago.

1. So how did you initially get involved in this case? 

Ans: As the county’s chief medical examiner, I was the one to receive the deceased body of Jason Johnson after he had died of cardiac arrest

1. I see, and what were you specifically hired to do?

Ans: I was hired to examine Johnson’s body and give my professional opinion as to what contributed to his death.

1. Have you familiarized yourself with the contents of this trial?

Ans: Yes I have.

1. And how have you acquainted yourself?

Ans: I have thoroughly reviewed all the relevant documents and witness statements pertaining to this case.

1. You mentioned cardiac arrest was the cause of death correct?

Ans: Yes I did.

1. Could you explain how that happened?

Ans: Of course, the mechanism itself is called cardiac arrhythmia, which is a lethal change in heart rhythms. That was what led to the sudden cardiac arrest and subsequently cardiac death.

1. Did Johnson have any medical problems that would have made him more susceptible to these arrhythmias?

Ans: Yes, he had a pre-existing heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM. This condition causes the heart muscles to thicken and block blood flowing in the heart. So cardiac arrhythmias are common with HCM patients but these symptoms can be further exacerbated by other influences as well.

1. And after analyzing the body were you able to determine what external influences might have exacerbated his symptoms?

Ans: I was able to verify both alcohol and amphetamine as possible triggers.

1. What were the examinations you conducted to verify that?

Ans: I took a blood venous blood sample in order to run an alcohol screening as well as to see how much adderall was in his system. 

1. What were the results of the alcohol screen?

Ans: I found the deceased had a blood alcohol content, or BAC, of 0.05.

1. And how much adderall was tested to be in Johnson’s system?

Ans: Based on the blood test, he had taken 40 milligrams of Adderall within 10 hours of his death.

1. Knowing all the results, what do you believe was the leading cause of Johnson's cardiac arrest?

Ans: In my professional opinion I’m certain Adderall was the leading cause.  

1. And why do you believe that alcohol wasn’t a primary factor as well?

Ans: A BAC of 0.05 would only cause a slight impairment and even taking his pre-existing heart condition into account, drinking alcohol by itself would not have been enough to cause Johnson’s death.

1. And how did this cause Johnson’s arrhythmias?

Ans: The increased side effects of amphetamine with alcohol, led to coronary vasospasm, which is a sudden narrowing of one of  the coronary arteries that supplies blood to the heart. Due to this, a vasospasm will stop blood flow to the heart and cause arrhythmias. Exactly like the cardiac arrhythmias Johnson experienced.

1. Are there any final thoughts you would like to mention?

Ans: Yes, the acceptable therapeutic dose of adderall for someone who is Johnson’s age is around 10 to 20 milligrams per day with a recommended maximum of 30 milligrams at any one time. 30 milligrams is already considered a dangerously high dosage and so 40 milligrams, while not technically lethal, is extremely precarious. That amount, combined with even a small amount of alcohol, would inevitably be life threatening.