The Los Angeles coroner released his findings on the death of Brittany Murphy who passed away last December at age 32.
He concludes her death was avoidable and she would still be alive if she had consulted a doctor, reports People.
It was not a drug overdose or anorexia that caused her death. It was pneumonia. "This death could’ve been preventable. Murphy was planning on seeing a doctor, but she unfortunately passed away before she did. This was a case of a person with pneumonia who was anemic (having a low blood count) who was taking medication when she should’ve been getting medical treatment," the coroner concluded.
No illegal drugs were found in her system, only traces of an over-the-counter medication. Her husband, Simon Monjack, had mentioned that she was taking cough medicine.
The conclusion surprised Monjack and Murphy’s mother, Sharon Murphy. The two had been convinced she had a heart attack. They did not realize the actress was that sick.
Brittany Murphy’s death on December 20 was therefore ruled accidental.