Dr Conrad Murray and Michael Jackson - my view

Dr. Conrad Murray's continual denial of any culpability for Michael Jackson's death is ridiculous. It just shows how some people can create their own world and live totally is unreality. Yes, he must get away from patients. He has spent so many years blaming his patients for everything, he can not accept responsibility for his own improper actions and misconceptions. Every doctor must have the ability to admit mistakes and strive to do better.

First, Conrad Murray says he did not know Michael Jackson was a drug abuser. This is unbelievable. Everyone knew Jackson had some sort of drug problem. Just because Michael did not use the exact words, "I am a drug addict," can not erase the fact that Jackson just by demanding Propofol gave a statement (to anyone who worked with addicts) "I am definitely a drug addict." Jackson only wanted Murray because Jackson found he could be easily manipulated by money and access.

Murray gives a million reasons why he did not call 911. The truth is, his girlfriend was on his cell phone and he could have easily told her to call 911 because Michael was having a problem. No excuses - the 911call was a must because Murray was totally unprepared. As a cardiologist, Murray must have extra portable EKG machines and monitors in his office, yet none were used. This expertise is what Jackson was paying for. He did not want "crack house care." Murray never checked Jackson's medical history. Murray never did lab work, an EKG or chest x-ray. I knew the story would be bad after Murray said he applied lotion to Jackson's body after Jackson showered. This is very abnormal - especially for a cardiologist. Why did Jackson not apply his own lotion - too tired?

I am going to go over only the last actions of Murray on that sorrowful day. I will only cover the time starting from Murray consenting to give Propofol. The reports are that the oxygen tank in the room was empty and the rescue breathing apparatus was not in place. These was an oxygen mask on the floor, but no statements that the mask was ever used. So, before you give a medication that could cause a major problem, as a doctor, he had a duty to have all of the rescue apparatus assembled and working and the rescue medications out. Actually, there are a lot of people who get these important jobs, such as air control operators, who fall asleep when they are supposed to be monitoring a situation. So, Murray should have had a nurse in the room also for back-up and assistance, as needed. Watching a person sleep can be very boring and the mind can wander. Murray takes no medical notes for over two months. Murray never took Jackson's vital signs or a quick EKG. This is crazy and ridiculous. It is also illegal to secretly record patients. Consent was not given for the recording of Michael or for the medications and procedures..

Granted, Propofol is short acting, but we can not trust Murray's words as to what happened in the room. Only a crazy person would order gallons of Propofol over a few months for a single patient for poorly monitored daily bedroom IV administration.

Michael returned home at 1 o'clock AM from the Staples rehearsal. Murray admits Jackson looked "dead" before he gave him the Propofol ("like in Thriller"), yet no physical examination. Murray admitted he gave enough medication to Jackson  "to put an elephant to sleep" - before he gave the Propofol. Around 2 AM the drugs started -  valium, lorezapam, medazalam, versed and who knows what else.

Murray said he gave the IV Propofol, felt it had worn off, so he went to the bathroom and made a phone call. He never checked his breathing or heart. This is just crazy. If you must go to the bathroom, you go BEFORE you administer a drug. Jackson wants to sleep, the last thing he wants is to hear Murray jabbering on the phone to his girlfriend. No wonder Jackson had insomnia, the environment was totally non-conducive to sleep. Jackson never thought he would be abandoned. By the time Murray ambled back into the bedroom, still talking to a girlfriend, Jackson's heart rate was said to be 120 and Jackson was not breathing. All Jackson needed was respirations  Instead, Murray gives mouth-to-mouth, good only if you are a pedestrian and find someone unconscious - never used by medical professionals. Then, unbelievably, he gives chest compressions. This was the totally wrong thing to do, Michael had a heartbeat. By giving chest compressions, Murray stopped Jackson's heart. Now, probably with cracked ribs, Jackson is a total Code Blue and a few minutes from death. Still, only Murray is present and no respirations.

The remaining acts of calling a housekeeper, whose main concern was getting a smoothie in the refrigerator for Jackson,  for assistance and getting Jackson's scared son is an unbelievable scene to picture. Delaying getting all of the security officers to help and call 911 and more, is terrible, but too late. Jackson is dead. Murray tries to blame Security Officer Alverez for the emergency help delays. It is normal for a non-medical person to be shocked that his employer and mega-star is getting CPR in the bedroom and now Murray is demanding Alvarez give CPR, and call 911, and clean the room. Alvarez bears no fault.

Let's say there was a chance to save Jackson twenty minutes later. Murray reports to the emergency medical team that he witnessed Jackson "go down." To emergency responders, this means a heart attack, or similar event - NOT drug overdose. So, the emergency response team was treating for the wrong terminal event. They think he collapsed from a cardiac event in front of Murray after a stressful and long rehearsal. So, the emergency team is not fully treating the patient because Murray lied about how Jackson got into this situation.

Murray's denials are maddening. His claims are absurd. He had no knowledge or skills with addiction or neurology. He was used to treating low-income seniors for chronic heart problems. He was used to having patients die. He has no business getting involved as a physician with any other patients in the future.

Michael could never have completed this run of shows. He had been avoiding performances for years. Jackson looked terrible at his last child-abuse trial - thin, coming in his pajamas, getting assistance with walking and even going to a hospital. Murray had the ability to change the rehearsal schedule, as the doctor. Instead he worked against Michael by pushing him to persist with the schedule.

What killed Michael Jackson? Failure to plan for an emergency, poor medical care, multi-drug overload with the doctor distracted and abandoning the patient, rendering improper medical rescue care, failure to call 911 immediately, and abandoning care again as the doctor cleaned the room and ran for help (instead of the cell phone), and false reports to emergency rescuers as to the true medical situation.