Michael Jackson’s doctor must stand trial

Dr. Conrad Murray has been ordered to stand trial for manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson.

After the testimony provided in the six-day preliminary trial, Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor made the decision. Approximately 30 witnesses were called and testified that the Houston cardiologist administered a dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol and other sedatives then left the pop star unmonitored.

As we have reported, over 250 bottles of propofol were ordered in the months before Jackson’s death and sent to a private home. The prosecutors concluded their case with testimony from medical doctors who said Murray acted outside the standard of medical care when he administered propofol and failed to provide proper care.

Day after day, damning testimony provided a glimpse into how the reckless actions of Murray led to the singer’s death. From Jackson’s bodyguard, who said that on the morning of the singer’s death, it appeared that Murray didn’t know how to administer CPR to his dying patient to the medical experts who confirmed MJ was dead a long time before they were called, the world got a sad glimpse into the final hours of the legend’s life.

During the six days of testimony, phone records showed Murray spent hours chatting on his cellphone and texting when he should have been monitoring his heavily-sedated patient, while Jackson’s security staff recalled the doctor’s inappropriate behaviour after finding the King of Pop lifeless in his bedroom.

One security guard, who was called to Jackson’s room by Murray, told the court the physician asked him to remove IV bags containing a milky-white liquid, believed to be anesthetic Propofol, from the pop star’s bedside.

Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor also granted a request by the California Medical Board to suspend Murray’s license to practice medicine in the state. Pastor said he made the decision in the interest of public safety and ordered Murray to notify every district in which he practices of the decision within 24 hours. Murray has clinics in Houston and Las Vegas.

Murray faces up to 4 years if convicted although to many even if convicted it won’t be long enough. 57, has pleaded not guilty, and his attorneys have argued that he did not give Jackson anything that should have killed him. Murray faces up to four years in prison if convicted.