Michael Jackson's Doctor to Be Charged With Manslaughter

[steven johnson]

Source: Fox News

Michael Jackson’s personal physician will be charged with manslaughter within the next two weeks, a law enforcement source told FOXNews.com.
The source initially said Dr. Conrad Murray could be arrested as soon as next Wednesday -- but investigators have decided to execute one more search warrant, likely at a Los Angeles pharmacy, next week in an attempt to gather more evidence against him. The arrest is now expected the following week.
Murray isn’t the only doctor who faces criminal charges in connection with Jackson's death on June 25. A law enforcement source told FOXNews.com that Jackson’s longtime dermatologist, Dr. Arnold Klein, will be hit with charges related to medical malpractice. Investigators are still building their case against Klein, and he will not be arrested for at least another two weeks, the source said.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,540540,00.html

[sharp_stick]

1. Quick PM that to ShadowKnows69

he must be kept apprised of all MJ developments at all times. ;)

[hlthe2b]

4. I saw his sticky...

was that tongue-in-cheek or his he a truly dedicated (and brave from the standpoint of harrassment) fan?

[sharp_stick]

7. Very tongue in cheek

that guy is no fan and had a bit of a wild post about it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=210x29229

on edit: to be completely fair, I think he just went a bit overboard on this one. I don't think it's a good overview of all this members posts.

[hlthe2b]

11. Ahh... so the sticky was his pennance...

LOL

[shadowknows69]

21. I admitted as much and asked the mods to lock that thread myself.

[shadowknows69]

22. ETA: It's very very sad if this is the case.

Despite my overzealous post earlier, I wouldn't dream to excuse medical malfeasance if that is indeed the case here.

[sharp_stick]

24. I know

I was being a smartass, sorry.

[Catherine Vincent]

25. LOL!

:thumbsup:

[hlthe2b]

2. Wow....

I'm guessing these will be difficult prosecutions, but hopefully it will send some chill up the spines of other speculative and irresponsible health providers that would do similarly for other foolish and demanding people. They are ethically bound and trained to know better.

[rocktivity]

6. The anesthetic Jackson was injected with is supposed to be

administered, supervised, and monitored by a licensed anesthesiologist using mandatory equipment. If Murray didn't do that, he's toast on that alone.

:(
rocktivity

[hlthe2b]

9. he's toast from the standpoint of losing his license...

but getting an involuntary manslaughter conviction on the part of a treating physician is not going to be quite so easy.. I certainly believe the evidence may well point to that outcome, but we shall see.

[rocktivity]

15. First-degree manslaughter (killing someone you're trying to injure) wouldn't fit

but second-degree manslaugher (negligently engaging in behavior that you either knew or should have known could result in death) would. No criminal intent is required.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[hlthe2b]

19. One would think proving negligence would be a no-brainer...

leading to an involuntary manslaughter conviction, but don't kid yourself...The constructs around what a doctor can and can not do are fairly loose, including using drugs off license (for indications other than originally intended. They will have little trouble finding anesthesiologists and other docs who will state their opinion that use of anesthetic drugs as were used should never be done outside a hospital/outpatient clinic or other setting with proper staff and monitoring equipment. However, such "home use" is not inherently illegal and the defense lawyers will argue that there was a doctor--a cardiologist--on site. So, again, while I (and most) will see this as a no-brainer in terms of negligence, I don't think it is clear that juries will not be swayed otherwise, especially if loaded with those who want to blame the victim for his own role in drug seeking.

[YellowdogIam]

28. The Diprivan didn't just magically appear

Some one had to account for the amount that was used... either the Hosp pharmacy or Murray himself ,if he stole it..
I don't imagine this is a drug you can just get by prescription at your neighborhood Walgreens or have delivered
There are more people to blame than just Murray.

[rocktivity]

3. He'll be arrested in two weeks?

He'll be in Mexico by then--I'm sure the good doctor appreciates the tipoff.

They sure do policin' differently when celebs are involved, don't they?

:headbang:
rocktivity

[hlthe2b]

5. Well, given how many MJ fans internationally....

He won't have it easy if he chooses to run...

[ShortnFiery]

8. IMO, this is stupid. It was MJ's celebrity that make his fans want to BLAME someone else.

None of us would end up dead because unlike Billy Mays and MJ, we don't have the $$$ to afford abusing prescription drugs.

Yes, the Dr. should lose his license but dammit, MJ KILLED HIMSELF. It was his CHOICE to doctor shop around and SCORE these legal drugs.

I just don't feel like the ONE doctor should be strapped with ALL the blame for MJ's death as Jackson, over the years, had scored multitudes of drugs from other, equally willing, quack doctors which left his heart/organ systems suceptible.

Like ELVIS, it was IMO, "suicide via the installment plan" that the drugs caught up with MJ.

[hlthe2b]

10. Separate issues... Medical providers have an ethical and legal

responsibility to practice within the dictates of the law and standards of accepted medical care. MJ's irresponsibility doesn't mitigate the doctor's responsibility.

[ShortnFiery]

12. It's revealed that MJ has been abusing drugs for years. Again, the doctor should lose

his license but ABUSING DRUGS should be an individual's RESPONSIBILITY.

Remember that GW Bush used MEDICAL DOCTORS in GITMO to help with the "torture program."

Therefore, the thought that medial doctors truly have ethics is not ever considered "a given" to me. I always research the background of my health providers, most especially the M.D. types. ;)

[hlthe2b]

14. His legal and ethical responsibilities as the medical expert

will be the pertient legal factor and WILL come into play in the trial, I can assure you. To the extent a jury is populated by people that wish to mitigate the doctor's negligence with MJ's irresponsibility will affect the outcome though, I agree. Thus, my point that a criminal manslaughter conviction is going to be tough.

[No Elephants]

23. Apparently, even MJ knew not to administer this drug to himself. The doctor gave it to him by IV,

gave him oxygen overnight, etc. I don't know why you have a problem with his getting punished. Jackson got punished. A death sentence, but Jackson did not act alone. It's not as though this guy gave him a prescription and said, "now, take only one a day, wink wink." He was an active participant.

Yes, Bush used doctors. He used lawyers, too. they were all guilty.

[Catherine Vincent]

26. "It's revealed that MJ has been abusing drugs for years."

Where's the proof?

[YellowdogIam]

29. So...

If the Jackson family was as 'close' and 'caring' of each other as they would like us to believe, why didn't someone address his drug problem years ago?
Looking the other way and ignoring the problem only makes it worse..
they are all enablers.

Now the family members want someone to place the blame on..I can't believe they don't feel any sense of responsibility in his death too..
They are all hypocrits

[JeanGrey]

33. Jackson used MANY doctors, even dentists to get what

he wanted. Murray claims he did not give MJ enough to kill him - that MJ reprogrammed the IV drip when he was out of the room. I believe him. MJ wanted to die - according to many reports he carried suicide notes for years.

[MISSDem]

31. I agree. It isn't right, but if this doctor had not done what MJ wanted

then he would have found one who would. Puleeze.

[maxsolomon]

13. SOMEONE MUST BE BLAMED

couldn't possibly be the responsibility of St. Jackson.

William S. Burroughs called doctors like these "Croakers", IIRC. Junkies regularly seek them out.

[stray cat]

16. I think Jackson already paid - crooked doctors are ok with you?

[maxsolomon]

18. jackson didn't "pay" - he went to sleep & didn't wake up

no, crooked doctors are not ok with me. neither is scapegoating.

[ShortnFiery]

17. That's why we must do a better job at reaching out to "the addict"

As a former addiction counselor who worked for two years in Central America, I can attest to the fact that there will ALWAYS be people who will "sell out" as PUSHERS ... with our without the M.D. after their name.

Sure, nail this guy if you wish, but in my eyes and most people who work within the mental health community, Michael Jackson is PRIMARILY responsible for his own death. If it wouldn't have been this man, he could have unearth dozens more M.D.s who would have perscribed EXACTLY what MJ wanted.

The KEY is to prosecute the M.D.s, but #1 Prioity is to emphasize to the person addicted and his loving family THAT it is THE INDIVIDUAL's responsibility to seek help ... to save his/her own life.

This doctor didn't individually KILL Michael Jackson ... he killed himself through years of abuse and drug addiction. Even if this incident wouldn't have killed him, if he didn't seek help and work a program, he would have died before his "natural" time.

[YellowdogIam]

27. Of course Jackson is to blame

And the unethical Dr just saw $$ and jumped on the Jackson train..

But Jackson had three great kids who loved him as I'm sure he did them, and still put his selfish lifestyle ahead of them..
Apparently he was so far out of it that someone should have been given power of attorney or made legal guardian and placed him in a facility to recover..
So now all this noise everyine is making is just that.. noise..
Too little too late

[AlphaCentauri]

20. Can't see any doctor or insurance charge with Manslaughter

when many Americans die for the lack of medical care while MJ was paying this doctor to serve his needs.

[ffellini7080]

30. I should have known

that there was more to MJ's death than what we were told.

[YellowdogIam]

32. Apparently he had a death wish

He begged and begged for all that IV crap and finally found someone who gave it to him..what more is there to it? You play with fire and guess what? Yeah, you usually get burned