Is Brittany Murphy our Karen Carpenter?

Interesting that the Los Angeles County Coroner immediately dismissed drugs as a factor in the death of tragic actress Brittany Murphy-- despite the large quantities of prescription medication found in the home where she died and the perception around town that she had substance issues. And whether the coroner's statement is Danny Gans-style parsing or a legally shrewd move, it has combined with true shock among many people who remember Brittany from her brighter days to lead to hopeful speculation that Brittany died not from excess but as a result of anorexia. Hopeful, because if that were to be the case, Brittany would not be another wasted talent, but a victim of society's cruel expectations, our culture's twisted demands, and the resulting distorted body image among many women and girls. She would be a feminist icon. She would be this generation's Karen Carpenter. She would have died for our sins. At least for the next six weeks until the toxicology results come through.