According to best selling author Ian Halperin, who has just finished writing a Michael Jackson's biography, the pop icon suffering from Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a potentially fatal genetic illness, including emphysema and gastrointestinal bleeding, is in desperate need of an emergency transplant operation to save his life from a rare lung condition.

Talking to In Touch magazine, Halperin says Jackson 's had it for years and now it is getting worse. A lung transplant is required, but Jackson , 50, is too weak for it and because of gastrointestinal bleeding, could possibly kill him. If, Halperin is to be believed, the 'Thriller' and 'Bad' singer is barely able to speak, and is 95% blind in his left eye.

While, Jackson 's normally outspoken publicist denies the allegations, earlier this year, Jackson was photographed in a wheelchair, and only a few weeks ago, he was spotted wearing a Zorro style mask and being supported as he walked. So, there may be some truth to Halperin's claims that the King of Pop is fighting for his life, after all. A shame, as we would like another 'Thriller' from him.