Michael Jackson's One-Year Memorial

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright June 25, 2010
All Rights Reserved.                                

           Michael Jackson’s untimely death June 25, 2009 and burial at Forest Lawn July 7 hasn’t answered nagging questions about the circumstances under which he died.  Press reports point to Jackson’s frail health, past sexual proclivities and history of substance abuse, all become convenient excuses to ignore one of the most egregious acts of malpractice by a licensed physician on record.  When Jackon’s doctor, Conrad Murray, appeared before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor June 14, the judge refused to revoke his license.  August 24, 2009 the Los Angeles Coroner concluded that Jackson died from a Diprivan or propofol overdose administered by his $100,000 a month personal physician.  While the coroner also found traces of other drugs in Jackson’s system, they still concluded that propofol was the culprit that stopped Jackson’s breathing.

            Following the coroner’s report, the Los Angeles County District Attorney charged Murray with a single count of involuntary manslaughter Feb. 8, 2010, the equivalent charge had Murray accidentally run Jackson down in a crosswalk.  In the early morning of June 25, 2009, Jackson had just returned from a triumphant rehearsal at Staples Center of his upcoming British Tour, showing his trademark energy and precision expected of the world’s top pop performer.  While the facts remain murky, sometime early in the morning of June 25, Murray hooked Jackson up to an intravenous device and administered the lethal propofol to treat the singer’s insomnia.  Without proper training or monitoring equipment, Murray poked Jackson’s vein and administered what amounted to a lethal injection.  Medical standards for using propofol, a fast-acting anesthetic, require heart-lung monitoring equipment.

            Murray took no such precautions only to find Jackson not breathing sometime in the morning of June 25.  Instead of immediately calling 911, Murray insisted on performing CPR for up to one hour before asking for help and calling 911.  If you follow the timeline, Murray found Jackson around 10:00 a.m., administered CPR to around 11:00 a.m., called Fire Dept. paramedics who arrived at Jackson’s rented Holmby Hills home at 12:24 p.m. where they worked on him until for another 40 minutes or so until transferring him to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center at 1:14 p.m. where a team of doctors and nurses worked on him until pronouncing him dead at 2:26 p.m. Concerned about liability, it’s conceivable, based on the best evidence, that Jackson was dead when Murray first found him somewhere, if you can believe him, around 10:00 a.m., though it was probably much earlier.

            Adding insult to injury, Murray’s attorney, Ed Chermoff, argued successfully to Judge Pastor that if his medical license were revoked, the 56-year-old physician couldn’t pay his legal bills.  Representatives from the Los Angeles District Attorney and California Medical Board dropped the ball, letting Murray continue to practice medicine.  Whether he accepts responsibility or not, he administered a reckless procedure for which he had no certification resulting in Michael’s death.  His attorney can point fingers at Michael’s history of whatever but he can’t ignore that Jackson died because of Murray’s direct actions.  His “intent” is of no consequence to a gross act of negligence and malpractice causing Jackson’s death.   What does the DA or Medical Board need to see before they act responsibly.  No, Murray didn’t wield a knife or pull a trigger but he poked Jackson with a lethal needle.

            Michael’s family and friends are outraged by the DA and Medical Board’s negligence in not terminating Murray’s California medical license.  His father, Joe Jackson filed a wrongful death suit in federal court, where, like the O.J. Simpson civil suit, the standard of proof is more forgiving.  Joe Jackson and family seek unspecified damages for the wrongful death caused by Dr. Conrad Murray.  Had the DA or Medical Board done their job, the Jackson’s wouldn’t have to take matter into their own hands.  Watching Murray get away with at least involuntary manslaughter—or far worse—makes the blood boil of all those crying out for justice on the anniversary of Michael’s death.  There’s no consolation when his killer remains at large and continues to practice medicine.  What more does the DA or Medical Board need to see to take appropriate legal action?

            One year after Michael’s death continues the emotional hemorrhage watching Dr. Conrad Murray face a slap on the wrist and continue practicing medicine.  “A year has gone by but it is still just as emotional.  It’s very hard sometimes,” Michael’s mother Katherine told the British “Sun.”  “I am happy that people are celebrating the anniversary because I know the world is missing and remembering him.  But every day I struggle—I miss him immensely,” reflecting the same mood as millions of Michael’s fans.  No one expects a pound of flesh.  But justice screams our for an appropriate punishment to the man responsible for Michael’s death.  Conspiracy theories aside, appropriate justice requires the DA and Medical Board to take decisive action to protect the health and safety of California medical consumers.  No one with such abysmal judgment should be allowed to practice medicine.

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.