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.”