Previous posts (80, 96, 126-136) discussed Captain’s use of midazolam and fentanyl a few days prior to the accident. Speculation was that use was associated with a stress test.
Page 4 of the Human Performance report clarifies that the Captain underwent stress echocardiography on March 7, 2014 with new abnormalities noted. On March 11, 2014, the Captain underwent cardiac catheterization, which demonstrated significant coronary artery disease. This latter procedure was the source of the midazolam and fentanyl.
Some other background on the Captain’s medical status:
Captain underwent coronary bypass surgery and cardiac catheterization in 2011.
Medically certified under special issuance in 2012 and continuously thereafter.