# Michael Jackson's Death 911 Call **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 8, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jacksons-death-911-call/528092 "2010-02-08T01:34:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PokerAKQJT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b5ac83/32.png) [@PokerAKQJT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PokerAKQJT)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jacksons-death-911-call/528092/1 "2010-02-08T01:34:55Z")
As to be expected, there are many “Michael Jackson faked his death and is still alive” conspiracy theories on the internet. I don’t belive in conspiracies, but one thing is very puzzling. When the 911 call was released the 911 operator said something to the effect: “Ambulence is on it’s way. Call back if you need any more help”. Would 911 operators really end the conversation and tell a caller to call back when somebody is supposedly dying? Any 911 operators out there? What are your thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jacksons-death-911-call/528092/2 "2010-02-08T01:39:12Z")
Was it MJ’s doctor that called 911? If it was then the 911 operator may have been comfortable knowing a doctor was already present in the room and there was nothing more they could do that the Doctor didn’t already know. Of course I would have assumed it would be SOP for the 911 operator to stay on the line until the ambulance arrives. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jacksons-death-911-call/528092/3 "2010-02-08T02:04:53Z")
In a busy place like LA they may not have enough operators to stay on the line for every case where an ambulance is dispatched. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jacksons-death-911-call/528092/4 "2010-02-08T02:14:42Z")
Yes 911 operators will let you go. BUT if you ask them to stay on the line till the help arrives they always do. I’ve had this experience in the past, when I was the overnight manager at a hotel and sometimes I had to call 911 and they will let you go after telling you the police/ambulance is on the way. I would say “But I’m the only one at the hotel, what if the guy comes and tries to rob me” (or whatever) and the operator says “If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll stay with you on the line till help arrives.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ec8ea/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Philosopher)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jacksons-death-911-call/528092/5 "2010-02-08T05:55:50Z")
Yep, they’ll try and end the call if the ambulance is on its way and they feel there’s nothing more they can do in terms of advice, so they can move on to other emergency calls. But they’ll always stay on the line if you ask them to. ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jacksons-death-911-call/528092/6 "2010-02-08T16:43:29Z")
The rules vary based on location. I (briefly) served as a police dispatcher at a combined center for 3 different towns. Each had different rules for different situations that were often very specific. Medical calls were generally treated differently than reports of crimes. One of the cities required us to stay on the line for any medical issue regardless of severity, which of course was asinine, since people call because they stubbed their toe and want a ride to the hospital. What was said on medical calls was also strictly controlled. We had a whole software system with scripts for medical response. Any caller who was reporting finding a dead person was supposed to be asked and even _persuaded_ to do CPR even if the body was rotting or decapitated or something obviously not fixable. If the person refused we had to log what they said. I guess the idea is to take the decision away from the person on the line to remove the room for error. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jacksons-death-911-call/528092/7 "2010-02-08T17:12:34Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > In a busy place like LA they may not have enough operators to stay on the line for every case where an ambulance is dispatched. Yeah, the one time I’ve called 911 here I had to wait on hold for about 5 minutes. In a serious situation that’s a _looong_ time. I figure they must be quite busy.