Jackson’s Doctor Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter

Dr. Conrad Murphy has been charged with involuntary manslaughter for administering propofol to Michael Jackson shortly before his death.  He plead not guilty at his arraignment on Monday.  

Coroners determined that Jackson died from acute propofol intoxication and wrote that the standard for administering the drug was not met in Jackson’s case.

At the arraignment, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge granted a request to confiscate Dr. Murphy’s passport.  The doctor’s mother lives in Grenada, and one of his children lives in Trinidad. Obviously, the judge also forbid Dr. Murphy from administering anesthetics.  And making a bad day even worse, Dr. Murphy was served with notice that the California medical board will seek to have his medical license revoked.

The judge presiding over the case vowed to treat this case like any other.  This rest of the world, however, will likely turn the trial into a media circus.  

Dr. Murphy was reportedly promised $150,000 a month in exchange for working as Jackson’s personal physician.  Perhaps Dr. Murphy should have heeded the warning that such a large salary offer seems to suggest.

See Randal C. Archibald, Jackson’s Doctor Pleads Not Guilty, NY Times, Feb. 8, 2010.