The Michael Jackson Case

The impending arraignment of Dr. Conrad Murray on charges of contributing to the death of Michael Jackson has many fans nervous. Reactions of what fans perceive to be an appropriate penalty for the doctor vary from the death penalty to a suspension of Dr. Murray's license to treat other patients, to no punishment at all. Thoughts about the case are all over the board with many saying Murray deserves the worst punishment possible due to administration of a strong anesthetic called Propofol outside of a hospital setting. Others believe Dr. Murray should have his license revoked due to negligence and that is it, some believe he should not be punished at all as Michael Jackson apparently requested the medication that killed him and bears equal responsibility for his own death.

I have been an avid follower in the case and have experienced the frustration with progress seeming to be very slow. In any case that is to be presented in a methodical manner, time is necessary. The other day I was wondering about precedent and the closest thing to precedent for something like this is what happened after Elvis Presley died. It took three years for "Dr. Nick" to go to trial and in the end he received three months probation and suspension of being able to practice medicine. Will it take three years in this case? Apparently Dr. Murray will face up to the charges on Monday but will he receive what many view as a slap on the hand as "Dr. Nick" did? In the case of Presley's doctor his punishment did not come about as a result of manslaughter. It was never clear enough whether drugs killed Elvis or it was a complication from him being an unhealthy man. Michael Jackson was healthy, with the exception of lupus, insomnia, and some other issues that should not have killed him.

This article is about my opinion and in my opinion; Michael Jackson was an addict though not necessarily at the time of his death. As a fellow sufferer of insomnia, I understand the desperation one can get to in an effort to attain sleep. People have said Michael Jackson was a current drug user and could not sleep because of a guilty conscience from child molestation. No one knows for certain if he molested young boys due to the case not coming to trial. For someone who does not have insomnia, it is easy to make assumptions. I don't know if he molested children or not but a guilty conscience is not what keeps someone who has taken prescription pills for a while awake at night. It has been many months since I ceased to take my pain medication the incorrect way and my brain is set where I continue to have to use something for sleep. When drugs are used over a period of time, this can happen based on my own personal experience. If they are used for a very long time, they become useless as it takes more and more to help the person fall asleep. It is a vicious cycle as ceasing these medications causes rebound insomnia that causes the person to need a larger dosage when he or she returns to taking the medication.

My belief (whether true or not) is that Michael Jackson continued to have insomnia years after discontinuing to take pain killers the wrong way. As someone who mistreated her own insomnia for years by using pain pills to help with sleep (I have had more than 20 operations and it is hard not to be hurting in some spot that keeps me awake at night) I have experienced insomnia to the extreme. Without medication, my body cannot fall asleep. I am certainly not someone who does evil things like molest children-I simply cannot sleep due to health issues. Jackson had plenty of health issues with lupus and other things and may have faced the same thing.

If Dr. Conrad Murray is telling the truth about trying to wean Jackson from these medications then perhaps he did give him the small dose of Propofol. There is so much we don't know. I have spent weeks of my life at 2 hours of sleep per night for days straight. My last surgery required much more anesthesia than it should have. Yes, the medication used was Propofol. In spite of reports Propofol does not give a person deep sleep, as I came out from under the effects, I did dream which means it led me into the REM stage of good sleep whether the medication was responsible or not. Michael Jackson likely had the same experience and was therefore convinced the medication worked.

Is it possible Dr. Conrad Murray left the room and Michael Jackson was awake enough to be groggy, turn up the drip, and not fully realize what he was doing? It is certainly possible. Maybe the situation is worse than what it appears and someone came into the room while Dr. Conrad Murray was not there. A lot is possible in this situation because there is much we do not know. From what we do know, Dr Murray has been upfront with administering the medication and even though other doctors may have done the same thing in violating their ethical code, Dr. Conrad Murray was the doctor who made the mistake (and Michael Jackson also but he has paid the ultimate price). The charge of involuntary manslaughter makes perfect sense to me though it angers many Michael Jackson fans. Anything more severe than involuntary manslaughter cannot be a charge due to some things being unknown-such as if someone else was there, missing tape from the day, a corrupted body of evidence, etc.

I was a Michael Jackson fan-I continue to be but was a fan for many years prior to his death. When I recovered from cancer treatment, his music helped me the few years following. I recognize the great loss of one of the most wonderful entertainers who ever lived but agree with the charges. No man who is as hated by the dire Michael Jackson fans should have to face the public to be put in handcuffs if his life is in danger and I completely agree with him being able to turn himself in. I pray for justice in the case-just as I do in cases that do not involve high profile celebrities but I also pray justice works out and he isn't killed before he can show what truly happened. Tomorrow is supposed to be the day Dr. Murray turns himself in and truly, I believe it was a medical accident. If it was something more, my opinion would be completely different. The one thing I am certain of is I would not want to be involved in this case because there is not a conclusion that will make everyone happy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_C._Nichopoulos

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propofol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REM_sleep

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebound_insomnia