Ask a doctor

Q: I am having surgery soon. Will they give me the same drug that Michael Jackson received, and should I be worried?

A: The majority of surgeries today include the use of propofol. It is a very safe, sedating medication when utilized by anesthe-siologists and certified registered nurse anesthe-tists. It should never be used outside a licensed medical setting. A major benefit of propofol is that most patients awaken quickly with much less residual "hangover" effect, and it also helps to prevent and treat nausea. However, it cannot teach you how to moonwalk.

-- Dr. Corey Carpenter, Anesthesia Associates; member, Chattanooga-

Hamilton County

Medical Society

Readers: To submit a question for a medical doctor, e-mail it to Clint Cooper at ccooper@timesfreepress.com. See this space each week for answers.

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