Michael Jackson doctor trial begins with jury told of singer's final moments

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

More than two years after Michael Jackson's death from an overdose of a powerful surgical anaesthetic, the irrepressible circus surrounding the King of Pop was back in full swing on Tuesday as the personal physician who attended to him in his dying hours stood trial for involuntary manslaughter.

Fans with gold "MJ" armbands and T-shirts bearing the silkscreen likeness of their idol crammed the courthouse in downtown Los Angeles for a glimpse of the courtroom entourage – and a shot at one of the few open seats in the public gallery. Bloggers, gossip columnists and news crews were also out in force, just as they were at Jackson's child molestation trial in 2005 and at the rehearsals for the ill-fated final tour – hauntingly named This Is It – that never took place in 2009.

Inside judge Michael Pastor's courtroom, an altogether more sober David Walgren, representing the district attorney's office, delivered an opening statement laying out the evidence that Conrad Murray was single-handedly responsible for Jackson's death.

"The acts and omissions of Michael Jackson's personal doctor, Conrad Murray, directly led to his premature death at the age of 50," Walgren said. "He … repeatedly acted with gross negligence, repeatedly denied appropriate care to his patient … it was Dr Murray's repeated incompetent and unskilled acts that led to Michael Jackon's death."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/27/michael-jackson-doctor-trial-manslaughter

[WI_DEM]

1. Of course the doctor was a quack but MJ can blame himself, too

for a lot of the reasons why he died an early death--same as Elvis and others who abused drugs.

[alp227]

2. So a woman who gets raped shouldn't have dressed so lightly,

and someone who was carjacked shouldn't have left his car doors unlocked? Great victim blaming right there. The law exists to protect people from quacks, scammers, and con artists.

[RevStPatrick]

3. Hmmm... close, but no cigar!

Doctor shoppers are not quite the same as scantily-clad women walking down the street. "The law" will only "protect" people who are doctor shoppers from quacks if they want to be protected. I think that people like MJ and Elvis were playing with fire, and knew they were playing with fire.

That's why this quack is up on manslaughter charges, rather than murder charges. The victim played a role in his own demise...

[alp227]

7. So what happened to the doctors who handed pills to Rush Limbaugh the cigar smoker? n/t

[arcane1]

4. False dichotomy

Jackson was paying this guy to administer surgical anesthesia on a nightly basis, so you can't say he didn't play a role in his own death.

Rape and carjacking are completely different than willing drug abuse. It's a pathetic comparison.

[customerserviceguy]

6. No law can protect rich people

who will always find doctor-whores who will do anything for enough money. If we really took it seriously, we'd require that people who visit plastic surgeons would have to consult psychiatrists first.

[tinrobot]

10. Did the doctor force the drugs on Michael Jackson?

Use of force or intimidation is one of the criteria for crimes like rape and carjacking.

Michael Jackson volunteered for this, and even put the guy on his payroll.

Not saying the doctor was right to accept the job, but your comparison is off.

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. True, but it is still illegal for a physician to aid and abet drug abuse

[Auntie Bush]

5. Michael Jackson has himself to blame.

[zalinda]

9. No, he doesn't. He was seeking relief.

I don't know if those who blame him have ever had problems falling asleep, but it can totally become hell on earth. Lack of sleep can drive you over the edge. I know, because I have the same problem. You lie in bed and your mind cannot shut off, and sometimes when you do fall asleep you aren't aware of it. I did a sleep study, and I would swear that I never fell asleep, not once, as I remember what happened during the night, including the nurse coming in and fixing the electrodes. But, when the study was completed, it said I did fall asleep and did go into rem sleep.

The problem lies with the doctors, who prescribe sleeping pills, which just masks what is really going on. In my case it is a form of anxiety, because for years I have not been able to fall asleep until 3 or 4 in the morning. An anti-anxiety drug, taken in the evening, has now solved the problem for the most part. I still have nights where I can't turn off my mind, but they are few and far between, it depends more on my stress level.

I suspect that Elvis, Jackson and even Heath Ledger were trying to find relief from the agony of sleepless nights, as other celebrities also may be going through. Whole industries lie on the backs of these individuals, which can be very stressful in itself. Finding a doctor that will treat them as people rather than celebrities, is also part of the problem.

When the wrong drugs are given to 'go to sleep', it can set up a never ending cycle of downers and uppers, that too willing doctors will prescribe to celebrities, to try to give star quality to their practices.

zalinda

[Gin]

11. the real drug was the doctors 150,000 a MONTH salary.

medical ethics flew out the window with that one...

[orion007]

12. MJ was addicted to demerol and getting shots from another

doctor supposedly unbeknown to his live-in doctor.
This was said in the opening statements of today's trail and that Demerol causes insomnia.

[Auntie Bush]

13. I too have insomnia so I understand what you're saying. But I believe Michael's

insomnia was brought on by all his abusive drug use for many years.

I started developing physical problems/symptoms due to lack of sleep. Dr. wanted to do a sleep study but insurance wouldn't pay for it so it wasn't done. Dr. put me on Ambien and I slept like a baby for the whole night for the first time I could even remember. I've been on Ambien for about 15 years and have never increased my dosage. However a night time anti-anxiety pill was started a few years ago after some deaths in the immediate family. I sleep fine now but still takes a long time to get to sleep. :(

I do feel for Michael's problems...yours too...and anyone else who has problems sleeping...it's a nightmare! LOL

[Omaha Steve]

14. Jackson's voice echoes through Los Angeles court

Source: AP-Excite

By LINDA DEUTSCH and ANTHONY McCARTNEY

LOS ANGELES (AP) - First, prosecutors showed a photo of Michael Jackson's pale and lifeless body lying on a gurney. Then, they played a recording of his voice, just weeks before his death.

Slow and slurred, his words echoed Tuesday through a Los Angeles courtroom at the start of the trial of the doctor accused of killing him. As a worldwide audience watched on TV and Jackson's family looked on from inside the courtroom, a drugged Jackson said:

"We have to be phenomenal. When people leave this show, when people leave my show, I want them to say, 'I've never seen nothing like this in my life. Go. Go. I've never seen nothing like this. Go. It's amazing. He's the greatest entertainer in the world.'"

Prosecutors played the audio for the first time during opening statements as they portrayed Dr. Conrad Murray, 58, as an incompetent physician who used a dangerous anesthetic without adequate safeguards and whose neglect left the superstar abandoned as he lay dying.

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20110928/D9Q16M3O3.html

---

Conrad Murray listens to the prosecution's opening arguments in his involuntary manslaughter trial at Superior Court, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011 in Los Angeles. Murray has pleaded not guilty and faces four years in prison and the loss of his medical license if convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Michael Jackson's death. (AP Photo/Al Seib, Pool)

[Samjazael]

15. Mind control central

Interesting.

Is this the same court system that tried to convict Michael on child molestation charges?

[K8-EEE]

16. Oh holy cow I was down there for jury duty today, how'd I miss all this?

Will have to get outside the courthouse a bit tomorrow!

[Javaman]

17. One would think they would have a better sound system. nt

[CountAllVotes]

18. kick

A :kick: for the King of Pop!

:dem: :kick: & recommend.

[rocktivity]

19. The doctor either knew or should have known he had no business administering a general anesthetic

Only licensed anesthesiologists can, and even they must have certain equipment and an assistant on hand because the patient can never be left alone.

:headbang:
rocktivity