Video shows 'safe' use of drug that killed Michael Jackson
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[size=14pt]Video shows 'safe' use of drug that killed Michael Jackson[/size]<br /><br />
<br /><br /> Jurors in the trial of Conrad Murray watched a video Wednesday of an actor pretending to suffer cardiac arrest while being given the surgical anesthetic propofol in a hospital, which is what prosecutors contend killed Michael Jackson.<br /><br />The video, however, showed doctors and nurses successfully reviving the pretend patient using equipment, drugs and staffing Dr. Murray did not have at Jackson's home when he realized the pop icon was not breathing.<br /><br />It was played for jurors as anesthesiologist expert Dr. Steven Shafer narrated from the witness stand, explaining step by step how he prepares and administers propofol.<br /><br />Shafer is crucial to the state's effort to prove Jackson's death was caused by the doctor's gross negligence in using propofol to help the entertainer sleep while he was preparing for his "This Is It" comeback concerts in London.<br />Murray, on trial for involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's 2009 death, has pleaded not guilty.<br /><br />"It's a terrifying dramatization of a person experiencing cardiac arrest, complete with visual effects," defense lawyer Ed Chernoff said in his argument against letting jurors see the video.<br /><br />While Chernoff argued it was designed to "inflame the jurors' minds," Deputy District Attorney David Walgren said it was only intended to inform them about the safe methods of administering propofol.<br /><br />The prosecution contends that Murray's use of propofol to help Jackson sleep was so reckless that it was criminal and that it significantly contributed to his death.<br />Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor ordered Walgren to edit several segments from the video, but he allowed much of it to be shown in court, including a demonstration of what happens when a patient experiences cardiac arrest while under propofol.<br /><br />Walgren spent an extended midmorning break re-editing the video to delete scenes, including those showing the actor-patient suffering an airway obstruction and aspiration problems because the prosecution is not alleging those were involved in Jackson's death.<br /><br />Shafer, who is one of the world's foremost experts on anesthesiology, testified that he is not being paid for his testimony because he did not want people to think money would influence his testimony.<br /><br />"This is just a Steve Shafer thing," Shafer said.<br /><br />He agreed to testify, at no charge, because he feared the publicity surrounding Jackson's death had harmed "the reputation of physicians," Shafer said. "I felt a need to help restore confidence that physicians put patients first."<br /><br />"As an anesthesiologist seeing sedation given in ways that do not reflect how anesthesiologists practice, I wished to present how an anesthesiologist approaches sedation so that patients are not afraid," he said.<br /><br />Propofol, which he regularly uses, has been given a bad reputation, he said.<br />"I am asked every day, 'Are you going to give me the drug that killed Michael Jackson?'" Shafer said. "This is a fear patients do not need to have."<br /><br />Dr. Shafer's testimony was suspended last Thursday to enable his lawyers to study a new lab test and allow the prosecution's anesthesiology expert, Steven Shafer, to attend a medical convention. It was delayed again after a death in the expert's family.<br />The judge indicated if Shafer's testimony is completed Wednesday, court would recess the following day to allow the defense to prepare before presenting its case Friday.<br /><br />Prosecutors are nearing a conclusion to their direct presentation, but rebuttal witnesses could be called next week after the defense rests its case.<br />Murray faces a maximum sentence of four years if convicted of involuntary manslaughter, but a new California law could mean the doctor would never see the inside of a state prison cell.<br /><br />The law, intended to reduce state prison overcrowding, provides for most nonviolent offenders with no prior record to be kept in county jails.<br /><br />A four-year sentence could become two years if Murray is ordered to serve his time in the Los Angeles County jail, according to sheriff's spokeswoman Nicole Nishida.<br />In addition, the Los Angeles jail is under court order to reduce overcrowding, which means many nonviolent, first-time offenders are allowed to serve the bulk of their time under supervised house arrest.<br /><br />A conviction, however, would likely trigger the revocation of Murray's medical licenses in California, Texas and Nevada.<br /><br />The trial, in its fourth week, is expected to conclude with the start of jury deliberations near the end of next week.<br /><br />http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/19/justice/california-conrad-murray-trial/
<br /><br /> Jurors in the trial of Conrad Murray watched a video Wednesday of an actor pretending to suffer cardiac arrest while being given the surgical anesthetic propofol in a hospital, which is what prosecutors contend killed Michael Jackson.<br /><br />The video, however, showed doctors and nurses successfully reviving the pretend patient using equipment, drugs and staffing Dr. Murray did not have at Jackson's home when he realized the pop icon was not breathing.<br /><br />It was played for jurors as anesthesiologist expert Dr. Steven Shafer narrated from the witness stand, explaining step by step how he prepares and administers propofol.<br /><br />Shafer is crucial to the state's effort to prove Jackson's death was caused by the doctor's gross negligence in using propofol to help the entertainer sleep while he was preparing for his "This Is It" comeback concerts in London.<br />Murray, on trial for involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's 2009 death, has pleaded not guilty.<br /><br />"It's a terrifying dramatization of a person experiencing cardiac arrest, complete with visual effects," defense lawyer Ed Chernoff said in his argument against letting jurors see the video.<br /><br />While Chernoff argued it was designed to "inflame the jurors' minds," Deputy District Attorney David Walgren said it was only intended to inform them about the safe methods of administering propofol.<br /><br />The prosecution contends that Murray's use of propofol to help Jackson sleep was so reckless that it was criminal and that it significantly contributed to his death.<br />Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor ordered Walgren to edit several segments from the video, but he allowed much of it to be shown in court, including a demonstration of what happens when a patient experiences cardiac arrest while under propofol.<br /><br />Walgren spent an extended midmorning break re-editing the video to delete scenes, including those showing the actor-patient suffering an airway obstruction and aspiration problems because the prosecution is not alleging those were involved in Jackson's death.<br /><br />Shafer, who is one of the world's foremost experts on anesthesiology, testified that he is not being paid for his testimony because he did not want people to think money would influence his testimony.<br /><br />"This is just a Steve Shafer thing," Shafer said.<br /><br />He agreed to testify, at no charge, because he feared the publicity surrounding Jackson's death had harmed "the reputation of physicians," Shafer said. "I felt a need to help restore confidence that physicians put patients first."<br /><br />"As an anesthesiologist seeing sedation given in ways that do not reflect how anesthesiologists practice, I wished to present how an anesthesiologist approaches sedation so that patients are not afraid," he said.<br /><br />Propofol, which he regularly uses, has been given a bad reputation, he said.<br />"I am asked every day, 'Are you going to give me the drug that killed Michael Jackson?'" Shafer said. "This is a fear patients do not need to have."<br /><br />Dr. Shafer's testimony was suspended last Thursday to enable his lawyers to study a new lab test and allow the prosecution's anesthesiology expert, Steven Shafer, to attend a medical convention. It was delayed again after a death in the expert's family.<br />The judge indicated if Shafer's testimony is completed Wednesday, court would recess the following day to allow the defense to prepare before presenting its case Friday.<br /><br />Prosecutors are nearing a conclusion to their direct presentation, but rebuttal witnesses could be called next week after the defense rests its case.<br />Murray faces a maximum sentence of four years if convicted of involuntary manslaughter, but a new California law could mean the doctor would never see the inside of a state prison cell.<br /><br />The law, intended to reduce state prison overcrowding, provides for most nonviolent offenders with no prior record to be kept in county jails.<br /><br />A four-year sentence could become two years if Murray is ordered to serve his time in the Los Angeles County jail, according to sheriff's spokeswoman Nicole Nishida.<br />In addition, the Los Angeles jail is under court order to reduce overcrowding, which means many nonviolent, first-time offenders are allowed to serve the bulk of their time under supervised house arrest.<br /><br />A conviction, however, would likely trigger the revocation of Murray's medical licenses in California, Texas and Nevada.<br /><br />The trial, in its fourth week, is expected to conclude with the start of jury deliberations near the end of next week.<br /><br />http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/19/justice/california-conrad-murray-trial/