E.T. interview with Dr. Alan Metzger

Friday, 04-Jun-1999 20:54:50

Julie Moran: As rumors and alarms have swirled around the health of Michael Jackson's son, one man is in a position to clear up the confusion, Jackson's doctor and friend, Allen Metzger. Metzger came to E.T.'s, Jan Carl, in his only national interview to shed light on the Jackon family ordeal.

Jan Carl: Was Michael's son ever near death?

Julie Moran: Amid conflicting reports on the health of Michael Jackson's young son, Prince, his family physician, Dr. Alan Metzger was ask by the singer to confront stories that the toddler's illness is life-threatening, to allegations that little Prince is in fact not even Michael's son.

Dr. Metzger: He's heard that, he's heard that the baby is paralyzed and hospitalized, he's heard that the baby was near death. And some of the press has been quite erroneous. We really wanted to get the record straight most importantly, that Prince had a mild illness percipitating a big fever, had a seizure and slowy has gotten better.

Jan Carl: This isn't the first time the 2 year old suffered a seizure caused by a viral infection although he is primarily Michael's physician, Dr. Metzger Prince's care in New York.

Jan Carl: What was the highest that Prince's temperature got?

Dr. Metzger: I think it was a 103.8 or 104.

Jan Carl: Contrary to many reports, Prince was not hospitalized for the incident although his condition was evaluated at a New York hospital. Michael's wife, Debbie, was in Los Angeles at the time. Did Debbie then fly to New York?

Dr. Metzger: Debbie did not fly to New York to my knowledge..she may have but I don't think she did.

Jan Carl: Today new reports surface that Michael took his recupperating son to a Manhattan recording studio where he's making a new album and that his long time friend, Diana Ross, paid a visit to the toddler.

Jan Carl: How is Michael getting through this?

Dr. Metzger: Michael is in a hotel..he has a full time nurse...he has himself who is a wonderful doting father.

Julie Moran: Thanks Jan...With son Prince back on the road to good health, Michael will head out for concerts with VIP friends in Korea on June 25th and Munich on June 27th..Both shows are benefits for the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.