Program Note: Join us tonight on AC360º at 10 P.M. ET to hear Dr. Sanjay Gupta speak more on Michael Jackson’s on-going medical examination.

For toxicology screenings, blood samples are drawn from the leg and heart, as drugs can circulate around the body.

Madison Park
CNN

Unlike television crime shows in which machines can instantly spit out results, toxicology testing to determine what drugs are in a person’s body can be a long and painstaking process.

The Los Angeles County coroner’s office estimates that toxicology tests on the body of Michael Jackson could take six to eight weeks. The results are needed to determine the singer’s cause of death, a spokesman for the coroner said. The singer’s autopsy last week was inconclusive, although officials said there were no indications of external trauma or foul play.

Identifying drugs in the human body requires a lengthy sequence of tests and confirmations that can take weeks and even months, forensic experts said.

Questions about the possible role of prescription medications in Jackson’s death have swirled since Thursday, when the singer was found unconscious. Edward Chernoff, attorney for Dr. Conrad Murray, who tried to revive Jackson at the singer’s rented home, said the doctor was not aware of any prescription drug abuse by Jackson.

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Program Note: Tune in to hear more from Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the challenges facing President Obama tonight on an AC360° special, “Extreme Challenges: The Next 100 days,” at 10 p.m. ET.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta
CNN Chief Medical Correspondent

Tonight, we are talking about a topic that I have been thinking about for nearly two decades. Health reform. In the early 90’s, as a medical student, I attended grand rounds where the topic might be spine fusion, but the side discussions were on federal entitlements. Over the years, I learned the perfect technique of removing a brain tumor and clipping an aneurysm, and spent my odd hour reading and writing about our health care system and its ability to provide very good health care to many, but certainly to the exclusion of some. When I worked at the White House in the Clinton administration as a Fellow, I saw firsthand how massive health reform might happen. It didn’t. And, now as a neurosurgeon, who has chosen to work at a county hospital, I spend my days taking care of people who are uninsured and as a result are sicker and more desperate – it is sad and heartbreaking. I have wondered out loud again how it might all be fixed.

I think it’s safe to say that no one thinks our health care system works well. I haven’t thought so, almost from the moment I entered it. Simplifying a bit, for the purposes of this blog, the two issues on the table are cost and access – and probably in that order. Having sat down with President Obama, I know he believes we should build on the current system. That is, people who have health insurance they like should be able to keep the same coverage. People who can’t afford it would be eligible for subsidies to help defray the costs. I have not heard anyone from the administration talk about completely overhauling the system or having it completely run by the government.

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Singer-songwriter Elton John sits down with Dr. Sanjay Gupta to talk about the global AIDS epidemic.

Dr. Gupta reflects on post traumatic stress disorder. He shares personal stories and asks viewers to submit questions.

Program Note: Tune in tonight to hear more from Dr. Sanjay Gupta about the violence in Chicago on AC360° at 10 p.m. ET.

Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes us inside a Chicago ER that treats young shooting victims.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta
CNN Chief Medical Correspondent

As far back as I can remember, I have watched David Letterman on late-night TV. I was a high school freshman when I first started watching him regularly, much to the dismay of my parents given the late hour of the show. During college, it was during his show that you would find the students gathered in the lounge waiting for the “stupid human trick” or his signature Top 10 list. I always felt he was at his best when the topic material was slightly more serious, and there was somehow comfort in watching this funny man offering a little comfort. I was always amazed at how effortlessly he navigated an interview, even the difficult ones with Cher many years ago and more recently with Joaquin Phoenix. In New York City, I always enjoyed walking by the Ed Sullivan theater, wondering what it was like inside.

Well, last night I got a chance to get a real insider’s look. Letterman invited me to be on his show, and I took him up on it. Suffice it say that I never dreamed I would be sitting on that stage with this icon, and there was no question I was nervous. It started with a pre-interview call with one of David’s producers, Matt Roberts. He was terrific and he had clearly done all of his homework. He recited facts about my career I had forgotten, and talked me through the whole structure of the show. Letterman primarily wanted to talk about swine flu, but warning: The conversation could really go anywhere. “Have a conversation with David, and don’t worry about the audience,” was Matt’s final piece of advice.

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CNN’s Anderson Cooper, along with Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Dr. Carlos Del Rio, answer questions concerning the Swine Flu.

Program Note: Tune in tonight to hear more from Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the flu pandemic on AC360° at 10 p.m. ET.

CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta brings you the latest information on the swine flu epidemic from Mexico City.

CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta tracks down a Mexican child who may be patient zero in the swine flu epidemic.