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Conrad Murray speaks out in TV interview Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray gives TV interview
(about 21 hours later)
Conrad Murray, the doctor convicted of the involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson, has defended his use of propofol to put the singer to sleep. Dr Conrad Murray, who was convicted of the involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson, has defended his actions in a television interview.
In a TV interview recorded before the verdict, Murray, who did not testify at trial, said he gave Jackson an "inconsequential" amount of the drug. Speaking to Channel 4, he maintained he had been trying to wean Jackson off propofol before the star's death.
A coroner found that he died in June 2009 of "acute propofol intoxication". But Dr Murray admitted it had been "really stupid" and "careless" not to keep notes of his treatment.
The Jackson family say the interview, airing on NBC's Today, gives Murray "a platform to shift the blame". "Was this a mistake? Absolutely," he said. "But the absence of notes was not responsible for his death."
The interview, being shown in two parts on Thursday and Friday morning, forms part of the documentary Michael Jackson and the Doctor: A Fatal Friendship. Dr Murray did not give evidence during his six-week trial, which ended on Monday when a jury ruled he had given Jackson a fatal overdose of propofol.
The makers of the programme, due to be shown in the US on NBC's sister station MSNBC on Friday and on Channel 4 in the UK - some time next week - began working with Murray in November 2009. He spoke to journalist Steve Hewlett eight days before the verdict as part of a documentary called The Man Who Killed Michael Jackson.
He continued to be filmed while the trial was taking place. The pop star's family have complained about the programme, which is due to be screened in the US next week. under the title Michael Jackson and the Doctor: A Fatal Friendship.
"I think propofol is not recommended to be given in the home setting," Murray said, during the interview. The executors of the pop star's estate said Murray was getting a primetime platform to smear Jackson's reputation without fear of cross-examination, and demanded that the screening be cancelled.
"Like so many of Michael's fans, the estate is... disgusted by MSNBC's irresponsible and inexplicable decision to air a Conrad Murray 'documentary'," it said.
Intervention
Asked about Jackson's use of propofol, Dr Murray said: "I did not recommend it. I would never have recommended propofol to Mr Jackson".
"He needed to get rid of it and resume a more normal state of sleep."
Using an analogy to explain his actions, he told Mr Hewlett: "If I came to your house and you were a friend of mine and unexpectedly I saw you with a gun in your hand, I can do one of two things and maybe succeed.
"I can tell you stop it and you might listen to me, or I might take hours to get you to hand over that gun. So I would say, basically, it took me a while to take away from Michael something I thought he should not use."
Describing the night when Jackson died, Dr Murray accounted for his actions in the one hour and 40 minutes between administering propofol and the emergency services being called.
He said he had sat with Jackson, checking his vital signs until he believed the effects of the sedative had worn off, before moving to an adjacent room at 11:20 am.
"If you say: 'Dr Murray, that was really stupid, you should have had a look,' then I agree," he said.
Dr Murray added that he had not informed police or the ambulance crew that Jackson had taken the drug because "they never asked me" and "I did not think it was important".
His comments echoed a similar interview given to the US breakfast television show Today earlier this week.
"I think propofol is not recommended to be given in the home setting," Dr Murray said during the interview.
"But it is not contraindicated.""But it is not contraindicated."
Murray, who claimed Jackson had been using the anaesthetic long before he met him, said he did not tell paramedics he had given Jackson the drug because it was such a small dose.
"Twenty-five milligrams and the effect's gone - means nothing," he added.
Asked why he mentioned other drugs given to Jackson but not propofol he replied: "Because it had no effect. It was not an issue."
In court, the defence argued that Jackson was a drug addict who caused his own death by giving himself an extra dose of propofol while the cardiologist was out of the room at the star's rented Los Angeles mansion.In court, the defence argued that Jackson was a drug addict who caused his own death by giving himself an extra dose of propofol while the cardiologist was out of the room at the star's rented Los Angeles mansion.
Murray told Today's Savannah Guthrie he had not been distracted by phone calls, emails and text messages.Murray told Today's Savannah Guthrie he had not been distracted by phone calls, emails and text messages.
"When I looked at a man who was all night deprived of sleep, who was desperate for sleep and finally is getting some sleep, am I gonna sit over him, sit around him, tug on his feet, do anything unusual to wake him up? No," Murray said."When I looked at a man who was all night deprived of sleep, who was desperate for sleep and finally is getting some sleep, am I gonna sit over him, sit around him, tug on his feet, do anything unusual to wake him up? No," Murray said.
He admitted leaving the room to talk on the phone saying he wanted Jackson to rest.
He said he had no reason to believe the singer would stop breathing and that he "was not supposed to be monitoring him at that time because there was no need for monitoring".
Asked if he was right to leave Jackson alone, he replied: "Had I known what I know today in retrospect, that Mr Jackson was an addict - and he had shared that information with me - addicts may behave in a way that is unreasonable and you may consider it."Asked if he was right to leave Jackson alone, he replied: "Had I known what I know today in retrospect, that Mr Jackson was an addict - and he had shared that information with me - addicts may behave in a way that is unreasonable and you may consider it."
The Jackson estate has written to MSNBC asking that they "exercise proper judgement and refrain from airing this programme". Dr Murray, 58, is due to be sentenced on 29 November and could receive a maximum prison term of four years and lose his licence to practice medicine.
"Like so many of Michael's fans, the estate is... disgusted by MSNBC's irresponsible and inexplicable decision to air a Conrad Murray 'documentary'," it said.
Murray, 58, is due to be sentenced on 29 November and could receive a maximum prison term of four years and lose his licence to practise medicine.