Murray sentenced to 4 years

The judge was stern and the doctor got the maximum 4 years but for many justice will never be served.

The judge not only gave the max of what he could, he provided a stern and condemning account of experimental medicine and how lies, deceit and the lack of remorse and responsibility was considered in his decision.

In addition to the evidence, lies and coverup by the doctor, Murray documentary where he blamed MJ for everything was the final straw. The doctor’s arrogance was his downfall.

Here are 2 links to hear the judge’s words.

Guilty

Guilty!

JUDGE MICHAEL PASTOR told the court:

“The public should be protected. This is a not a crime involving a mistake in judgement. This is a crime where the end result was the death”

As aired around the world.

The dear doctor was remanded immediately and led away in handcuffs.

The evidence was overwhelming. The arrogance was disgusting. A man lost his life.

Now lets hope that time served will be the maximum and his license is removed. Let this send a loud message to all ‘feel good’ doctors that they will pay if they abuse their oath.

Dr. White’s testimony torn apart by defense – Day 21

Dr. White was on the defensive when he was questioned on day 21 of the Michael Jackson manslaughter trial how much he was being paid by the defense to take the stand defending Dr. Conrad Murray’s actions.

Along with his fee debate, it was almost comical when he explained that the doctor not telling medics about Propofol was a small ommission and that having equipment without sound monitoring while out of the room was pointless.

He told the court that he usually charges $3,500 per day but he noted that he had only so far received $11,200. Considering that he has already spent 12 days sitting in the courtroom a lot of money seemed to be owed.

To be fair to Dr. White he said he wouldn’t expect to be paid $11,000 or even $3500 for every day.

This doctor will probably never see the total amount normally demanded because let us not forget that Conrad Murray could not afford to buy a pulse oxymeter for some $750- $1200 and monitored Michael with a device which costs $275.

David Walgren finally got Dr. White to admit that using a pulse oxymeter without an alarm when the doctor is out of the room is a pointless thing to do.

Now the 911 excuse was even more infuriating for anyone watching this testimony. He told the court that calling 911 in that setting was difficult as there was a gate with security outside and the telephone was not working! He finally agrees that making a 911 call from a cell phone is a quicker thing to do than sending a voice mail to Michael Jackson’s assistant Michael Amir Williams. Seems Dr. Murray had no problem using a cell phone to call his girlfriends so why would calling for help be so difficult.

Dr. White also had to admit that his oral drinking theory was baseless.

The doctor had to admit on the stand that Dr. Conrad Murray had deviated care for the King of Pop although he tried several times to get into evidence conversations he had with the doctor which the judge reminded him were not to be included in court (only the official interview given to the police was admissible).

Now when it came to administering Propofol in a home setting, Dr. White said that for about two months Murray had been giving to Michael Jackson a bolus of Propofol followed by a drip. His understanding was that it was nearly every night and that the initial bolus was 25-50ml mixed with 50ml of lidocaine. Each bolus was followed by an infusion (drip).

Based on the statement to the police Dr. White could not say how Murray would administer Propofol by infusion as he did not know the exact details. And since he didn’t know them, he agreed that the two infusions lines demonstrated to us by Dr. Shafer were quite possible.

Dr. White said that he had administered propofol in different types of setting (but not at home) and different settings required different type of monitors. Some Dr. White said were “desirable” to have, while others outside hospital setting “might not be available”.

Dr. White had to eventually agree that certain equipment was required (Pulse Oxymeter, EKG machine, Capnography (a device for analyzing exhaled air), and blood pressure cuff).

Debate also occurred as to whether a doctor should keep medical records. It was sad to watch a doctor try to fend off complaints when everyone knows a doctor is supposed to keep records. Just sad!!!!

What even became more outrageous was watching Dr. White wiggle when the prosecution used his own articles against him. Reading from a series of articles and chapters in textbooks where Dr. White was teaching others that under no circumstances the standard of care could be violated. The same care is to be provided independent on whether it is mild sedation or general anesthesia and no matter where the drug is being administered.

Dr. White tried to dance around his words stating they referred to a procedure also being done but Walgreen cornered him not allowing him to imply that less monitoring was required if a procedure was not being done but Propofol was being administered.

He tried to also imply that the words were being misrepresented but after checking, he could no longer imply the prosecution was mixing up his own words.

“Vigilant monitoring is required because patients may rapidly progress from a “light” level of sedation to “deep” sedation (or unconsciousness) and thus may be at risk for airway obstruction, oxygen desaturation, and even aspiration”

Here are his words as well.

To add more insult to Dr. White’s testimony he had to admit that he did not conduct the studies, relied on others, passed them off as his opinion and relied on defense studies without even reading the reports. In addition, he used outdated articles and did no use articles that clearly stated Propofol taken orally has no effect. This doctor did no work or research other than to google on a computer the word Propofol.

His testimony was pathetic.

Michael caused his own death claims defense key witness – Day 19 – 20

According to the defense’s star witness, Michael Jackson must have caused his own death by self injecting a fatal dose of Propofol.

Defense expert Paul White directly challenged the theory put forth by the government’s main medical witness, Dr. Steven Shafer.

It seems the two experts are at odds to what killed the King of Pop. Dr. Shafer testified that Dr. Conrad Murray had left a large intravenous drip of the anesthetic propofol running into the singer’s bloodstreams for three hours, even after he stopped breathing.

According to White, Shafer’s theory was ruled out by the level of the drug found in Jackson’s urine at autopsy. Given the urine levels and evidence at the scene, White told the jury that the more likely explanation was that the singer gave himself the drug.

“You think it was self-injection of propofol … between 11:30 and 12 o’clock?” defense attorney Michael Flanagan asked.

“In my opinion, yes,” White said.

The defense has been stating from the onset that they believed Michael Jackson administered the lethal dose.

Shafer testified that blood levels of the drug found at autopsy did not support self-injection — something he said was a “crazy scenario.”

White offered no defense to what several medical experts called by prosecutors have told jurors — that even if Jackson gave himself the drug, Murray was still responsible for the singer’s death for leaving him unattended. At the beginning of his testimony Thursday, he acknowledged he could not explain away Murray’s conduct.

The anesthesiologist’s testimony also supported a second defense contention: that the singer swallowed several tablets the sedative lorazepam. That drug, combined with the propofol they say Jackson gave himself, caused a “perfect storm” that killed the star instantly, they have told jurors.

“The fact that there is even a tiny amount of free lorazepam [in Jackson’s stomach] is consistent with the theory that he took lorazepam orally,” White said.

Cross examination is expected on Monday.

Let us know what you think.

AEG executive testifies – Day 18

Randy Phillips, concert promoter and financier of Michael Jackson’s “This Is It Tour” took to the stand following the emotional day 18 testimony from MJ’s nurse.

After announcing Michael’s first 10 shows, sales were unlike anything Phillips had seen in his 30+ year history in the business.

Phillips said the demand for tickets was nothing he’s ever seen before in his life. Following this, Michael agreed to add more shows.

According to Phillips, Michael agreed to 50 shows but 2 conditions had to be met:

1. He wanted a 16-acre country estate outside of London with streaming rivers and horses for the kids.

2. He wanted Phillips to make sure he made it into “The Guinness Book of World Records” as the artist with the highest number of shows at the famous O2 Arena (Prince currently holds the record with 21 shows).

These agreements have been debated by some who claim Michael never agreed to 50 but according to the testimony today, Phillips claims the King of Pop agreed.

Phillips told the jury when he first heard Jackson wanted his own personal doctor, he tried to convince the singer to hire someone in London, but MJ insisted on bringing Murray.

After receiving an email from director Kenny Ortega, Phillips said he had no idea there were issues. He did state he had a meeting with Michael where he was not focused and was missing rehearsals.

Frank DiLeo, Michael’s manager, apparently asked for a meeting to discuss MJ’s health. During this ‘emergency meeting’ held on June 20th, Michael assured Phillips he was ready to do the show … telling him, “You build the home, and I’ll put the door on it and paint it.”

Defense attorney Ed Chernoff got Phillips to confirm that Michael would have been responsible for any production costs if Phillips had pulled the plug on him.

Earlier in the day, Judge Michael Pastor barred any discussion about the contract between AEG Live and Michael noting, “This is not a contractual dispute. This is a homicide.”

Murray lied when he told the world he broke the news to Mrs. Jackson – Day 18

Defense continues today to bring witness after witness to the stand.

None other than a UCLA official who stated in court that it was another (not Dr. Conrad Murray) who broke the news of Michael Jackson’s death to his mother Katerine Jackson.

All along, Murray has been spinning stories about telling MJ’s mother about the death, hugging and consoling the family, etc.

What a boldfaced liar. It is so clear that he has been caught in this disgusting lie that his own defense team would not cross examine the statement.

Wow!

Let us know what you think.

Nurse Cherilyn Lee testifies about treating Michael Jackson – Day 17 and 18

Jurors heard from nurse Cherilyn Lee who told the court Michael Jackson asked for something to help him.

Cherilyn Lee is a nurse who has said Jackson asked her for the powerful sedative Propofol.

Lee said she refused to administer the anesthetic, usually reserved for surgical use.

The pop star was healthy, but Lee said she believed his consumption of caffeinated drinks probably didn’t help his sleep issues.

“I said, ‘Michael, the only problem with you taking this medication,’ and I had a chill in my body and tears in my eyes three months ago, ‘the only problem is you’re going to take it and you’re not going to wake up,’” Lee told Jackson.

Lee kept detailed notes of her treatments on Jackson unlike Murray who kept no records. Besides the ethical issue of no records, it means prosecution’s expert testimony was based on other information available, such as statements from other witnesses, investigators and their own research.

“He drank a lot of Red Bulls,” Lee said.

On the second day of testimony, Lee complained of feeling dizzy shortly after beginning her testimony. She noted it was very sensitive to her. She appeared visually distraught over testifying and was given an opportunity to rest for a short while.

After a short break Lee returned and continued her testimony.

Prosecutor David Walgren read from Lee’s medical records, where she told the singer, “I understand you want a good night sleep, you want to be knocked out, but what if you don’t wake up?”

Lee told the jury she had no idea what Propofol was at first but warned Michael about the drug after doing some research. She told Jackson “nobody who cared or had you best interest at heart is going to give you this.”

Lee claims Michael assured her it was safe as long as he was monitored.

According to Lee, Jackson eventually became frustrated with her holistic remedies and stopped calling her.

The last time she heard from the singer was on June 21, when his bodyguard frantically called to tell her Jackson wasn’t feeling well. She said she could hear Jackson shouting in the background, “Tell her what’s happening with me… half of my body is hot and the other half is cold.” She said she told the bodyguard to take him to the hospital immediately.

It was obvious from her testimony how torn she was in testifying, her genuine feelings toward Michael and the thought that he believed he would be monitored – the very thing that ultimately killed him – was to difficult for her.

Dr. Metzger confirms Michael’s sleep disorder – Day 17

Murray’s lawyers then questioned Dr. Allan Metzger — who claimed the singer had been struggling with sleeping problems for 15 years, and begged him for IV drugs as early as April 2009.

He said he told Michael Jackson on April 14, 2009 that administering an IV anesthetic outside of a hospital was dangerous and he would not do it.

He said he told Michael Jackson on April 14, 2009 that administering an IV anesthetic outside of a hospital was dangerous and he would not do it.

He told the jury he told Michael on April 14, 2009 that administering an IV anesthetic outside of a hospital was dangerous and he would not do it,

Detectives first defense witnesses called to the stand – Day 17

Prosecution has now rested it case and the defense in the Michael Jackson manslaughter trial will have their day in court to prove their client Dr. Conrad Murray should not be sent away for killing the King of Pop.

Detective Mayers

After hearing from a witness regarding the 911 call, the next two witnesses called were Detectives Dan Myers and Orlando Martinez. They told the jury that Michael Jackson’s bodyguard Alberto Alvarez never mentioned anything about Propofol until two months after Michael Jackson died. This of course is noted because they want the jury to believe Alvarez may have made up details.

Detective Orlando Martinez

 

Detective Alvarez testified in the first week of the trial that Murray ordered him to stash vials of Propofol in a bag before asking him to call 911.

Could he not have told police this in fear of being involved in a crime or was it that by then charges were laid and he realized the doctor’s actions resulted in the death of the King of Pop.

 

Detective Martinez has been a police detective of the Homicide Division for over 10 years. He arrived at the ULCA hospital at 3 pm to conduct interviews. He did “half of it” with Alvarez and then attended to something different and Detective Smite went on with it.

The same questions ensued: “Did Alvarez mention putting away the vials?”, etc.

He stated that he arrived  at N.Carolwood Drive at 7:30. He didn’t observe Alvarez there but observed Faheem Mohammad and Alex Supall who was in charge of the surveillance cameras. It was this detective Alvarez who determined that out of all the footage only the arrival of Conrad Murray and Michael Jackson would be of interest and downloaded. Now he admits that more of it could have been recorded.

At the August 31, 2009 he wasn’t present but he received a call from Prosecutor David Walgren in April 2011 who asked him to bring the evidence to a meeting with Alvarez  (the saline bag, the pulse oxymeter and the propofol bottle).

This dective confirmed he recognized the drawing made by Alvarez on August 31. Here is that drawing:

 

 

New drawing:

He told the jury that the drawing was significantly different from the original one he drew.

Detective Martinez explained that when Alvarez saw the saline bag he recalled that the one Murray had asked him to put away had a kind of an additional chamber to it.

Dr. Steven Shafer explosive testimony – day 12 to 16

Dr. Steven Shafer explosive testimony that lasted several days on the stand rocks the defense’s theory on Michael Jackson self administering drugs that killed him.

Anesthesiologist Dr. Steven Shafer was the last witness for the prosecution and his arrival was delayed by several days because the doctor attended his own father’s funeral.

Media had waited for what promised to be explosive testimony and demonstrations and Dr. Shafer did not disappoint. His gentle yet firm convictions that the King of Pop was given more drugs than Dr. Murray claimed as well as tests and theories he performed to disprove self administration were clearly explained to the court. Time after time this doctor addressed claims made by the defense’s expert as ‘not being possible’.

Opening his statements by claiming that his own patients daily ask him if he is administering the drug that killed Michael Jackson, this witnessed he did not charge for testimony and that his hope was to explain the merits of the drug and why it should not be regulated in the manner suggested following the reckless use in this case.

He did, however, state firmly guidelines that were required and expectation that must be met regarding medical care – all of which were seriously violated by Dr. Conrad Murray.

Shafer testified he found Dr. Murray’s conduct showed 17 “egregious violations” of standard medical care that contributed to the singer’s death.

This is not your run of the mill expert on Propofol. Shafer told prosecutors he was hired 20 years ago by the company that produces Propofol to calibrate the correct dosing for the drug.

Shafer said the exact dosage of Propofol is imperative because even a slight discrepancy could be the difference between a patient sleeping for a few minutes, and one sleeping for several hours.

Armed with videos and equipment demonstrations, the jurors watched a video that showed how Propofol should be used in the operating room. Nurses and doctors successfully reviving a patient (actor in this case) suffering from a cardiac arrest. Time and time again, the doctor explained Dr. Murray was not equipped to handle an emergency situation when he treated Michael because he had no such equipment in his makeshift setup.

Shafer explained to the jury that Jackson probably died because his tongue blocked the back of his throat and that he could have been saved with a simple chin lift.

Dr. Shafer went through key points while the video displayed stating the following:

- Infusion of drugs should be done ONLY through a pump to avoid overdosing.

- “Informed consent” is not just a piece of paper but a process in which the doctor informs the patient of all the risks, benefits and alternatives.

- A verbal consent is NOT binding.

- Record keeping is mandatory.

- If the patient stops breathing, the first thing a doctor should do is to call for help.

Even if only “a little bit” of Propofol is given, guidelines should be strictly followed because the worst disasters occur during sedation … when doctors “cut corners.”

Shafer said Murray’s treatment of MJ is both an “egregious” and “unconscionable” violation of standard care.

This expert also stated what everyone knows. That the 15.5 liters of Propofol Murray bought (four gallons worth) is “an extraordinary amount” for one person.

Shafer said Murray’s lack of basic and essential monitoring devices are an egregious violation of care and contributed to MJ’s death.

Of course as this trial unfolds, the fact that Murray never kept any records (noted by Shafer as being “unbelievable”) seems to indicate this doctor wanted to stay under the radar knowing what he was doing was unethical at the very least.

He said Murray “left the steering wheel” when he went to bathroom to relieve his bladder calling the doc “quite clueless.”

Shafer told prosecutors there is practically no research on Propofol use to treat insomnia … adding, “We’re in a pharmacological Never-Never Land.”

Shafer took a shot at his former colleague and friend, defense expert Dr. Paul White… telling the court he was “disappointed” to learn that White thought MJ could have died from drinking Propofol. Shafer went over several studies on rats, dogs and even humans that show the drug doesn’t work when it’s swallowed.

Shafer also mocked the defense’s theory that Jackson may have caused his own death by swallowing 8 pills of Lorazepam. According to Shafer the toxicology report showing the amount of Lorazepam found in MJ’s stomach was “trivial” did not support such a claim. According to his calculations, Murray would have had to inject MJ with 10 consecutive shots of 4 mg each to reach the the blood levels in the toxicology report.

Another defense theory that Shafer debunked was self administration by Michael. He told the jurors there is no way Jackson woke up and then injected himself with a fatal dose of Propofol. He said people don’t wake up “hell-bent” on grabbing the next dose, calling it a “crazy scenario.”

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