Voice Recordings Testify to Michael Jackson’s Drug Addiction
The world has been watching as Dr. Conrad Murray sits in the courtroom addressing charges that he is responsible for the death of pop star, Michael Jackson. The prosecution is trying to prove that it was obvious that Jackson was addicted to drugs and that any doctor who would continue to prescribe him narcotic medications had a hand in his death.
To prove their point, the prosecution presented evidence to show that Jackson was clearly addicted to drugs, evidence that would convince the lay person and should have been obvious to a medical professional by their estimation. First up, some recordings of voice mails left by Michael Jackson on Conrad Murray’s iPhone six weeks before the pop star died. In a droning, practically inaudible voice, Jackson spends one voicemail rambling about his upcoming world tour – lead prosecutor David Walgren said this was proof that Jackson was definitely under the influence of drugs and not just taking narcotics medicinally.
Specifically, Walgren said that it should have been clear to any doctor, Murray included, that Jackson was in no condition to be taking a drug like propofol for any reason. Walgren went on to compare a portrait of Jackson after his death to a picture taken the day before he died that depicted him as happy, fit, and performing in order to drive home the point that it was Murray’s choices and lack of communication that led made Jackson into a victim of homicide.
Murray’s response was that Jackson was his own person and chose to take a dangerous mixture of medications on his own. In addition to the propofol which Murray gave to Jackson, Valium, Lorazepam and midazolam were all found in Jackson’s body after his death as well. Murray claims that he did not know what else Jackson had taken before he gave him the propofol. He also says that he was trying to wean Jackson off the propofol and gave him a minimal dose but that Jackson had taken an additional dose after he left the room.
Walgren, however, says that the amount given to Jackson was the same as would be prescribed to a patient who required general anesthesia for surgery. Said Walgren: “Put simply, [propofol] is what is used to put you under. It is not a sleep agent; it’s a general anesthetic. Continuous monitoring is essential. It’s a wonderful drug if used by someone who knows what he is doing, who knows the dangers as well as the benefits. It should under no circumstances be given outside a hospital setting.”
The trial is scheduled as Jackson’s family members and fans wait and watch. The outcome of this trial could affect future cases in which doctors are put on trial when patients die due to overdose.
What do you think? Is it Dr. Murray’s fault that Jackson died of an overdose? Leave a comment and let us know what you think.
