RESPONDING TO GERALD POSNER'S RECENT PIECE ON DR. CONRAD MURRAY & HIS BEST DEFENSE, IF CHARGED

Michael Jackson's cardiologist, Dr. Conrad Murray, is seen in this July 7, 2006 photo. (AP)Gerald Posner is the King of Journalism when it comes to the details of Michael Jackson's death. He recently wrote the article, "Defending Jackson's Doctor," (article here) that discusses leaked allegations that Dr. Murray, Jackson's live-in doctor, administered an amount of propophol/Diprivan to Jackson that caused his death.

Mr. Posner proposes Dr. Murray's best defense, if charged, may be that he did not know Michael was using other prescription medication at the time he was using propophol.

The best hope for the defense team is that the toxicology report is Elvis-like. When the original King of Rock ‘n’ Roll died at the age of 42 in 1977, 10 drugs were found in his body. Four were in “significant” quantities: codeine; Ethinamate, a popular sedative-hypnotic med of the 1970s; Quaaludes; and a barbiturate, or depressant, that has never been identified but is usually reported as Phenobarbital. Presley’s body also contained smaller amounts of the painkillers morphine and Demerol; tranquilizers Placidyl and Valium, and Chlorpheniramine, an antihistamine.

The more drugs in Jackson’s toxicology report, the better for Murray’s defense. His lawyers could then contend that even if the prosecution can establish that Murray gave Jackson Propofol the night he died, the doctor might have adjusted the dosage, or refused to give it at all, if he knew that Jackson was mixing other prescription medications, prescribed by other doctors, and hidden in the house.

True, the amount of propophol administered must be determined by the doctor's knowledge of the patient's use of other drugs.  But, Dr. Murray had no training whatsoever to use the drug.  Propophol is so powerful and so fragile that only anesthesiologists are trained to use the drug.  Dr. Murray was not an anesthesiologist, he was a cardiologist.

Also, the death of Elvis is quite different than the death of Michael: Michael died in the arms of a doctor who was, at that very moment, allegedly giving Michael an IV injection.  Elvis was allegedly over-prescribed medication by doctors who fed his addiction.  But, Dr. Murray was placed inside of Michael's home and was hired to care for Michael.  There is a direct link between Michael and Dr. Murray; there was no specific doctor linked to the death of Elvis.

Dr. Murray will look like a damn fool if he says he did not know Michael was using other prescription medication.  Dr. Murray will be held to an even higher standard than the average doctor because he was living with Michael and administering medication to him on a daily basis.  Even if Dr. Murray didn't know of Michael's drug abuse, he should have known. Dr. Murray's permanent presence inside the Jackson home raises the standard of duty and care to Michael.

If propophol really did kill Michael Jackson, Dr. Murray will be charged with murder...

P.S. Thank you, Gerald, for your great writing!

www.xpunged.com and www.tamaraholder.com

MY CONVERSATION WITH AN ANESTHESIOLIST ABOUT MICHAEL JACKSON AND THE PROPOPHOL/DIPRIVAN RUMORS

Propophol AKA Diprivan

Rumor has it, Michael Jackson's live-in doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, gave Michael an powerful anesthesia called Diprivan or Propohol.  This weekend, I chatted with my friend, a practicing anesthesiologist about the drug. He shared some interesting information with me that I haven't heard reported yet.

My doc friend says that ONLY anesthesiologists are trained to use the drug, even ER doctors don't know how to use diprivan.  When he was a resident and there was an emergency, the ER would call him to administer the drug to a patient. Dr. Conrad Murray was NOT an anesthesiologist.  How the heck did he even know how to give the drug if the allegations are true?

My friend also says that Diprivan causes a person to stop breathing and so that when it's administered, the doctor must move the jaw in a way so that breathing can resume, or the person must be hooked up to oxygen.  Also, the "sleep" only lasts about 8 minutes; it doesn't provide the kind of natural sleep that Michael was apparently seeking. 

Another interesting note is that the drug is a milky white substance.  When opened, it turns yellow within several hours. If the drug was really found in the home, as reports say, it will be interesting to see if they were opened bottles that contained the yellow substance or if the bottles were unopened.

www.xpunged.com and www.tamaraholder.com