If Dr. Conrad Murray is Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter Well Then So Am I and Most of America
I was gonna go on world tour, but then I got high
I was gonna write a new song but then I got high
Now I’m laying here dead because I got high…
If Dr. Conrad Murray is guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson, well then so am I and about half of America.
For the record, I’m not currently on any prescribed medications. Nor am I one of the eccentric Jackson fans still living in Neverland and disbelief on exactly who Michael Jackson was. And for the sake of clarity, he was a gifted and talented man who had a penchant for young boys and controlled substances—and what Michael wanted, he often got. Case in point, let’s just say he finally got the sleep he was looking for. Too bad he’ll never awaken to tell us how it was to finally go to sleep.
Now onto Dr. Conrad Murray and this charge of involuntary manslaughter for his use of the operating-room anesthetic propofol as a sleep aid for Jackson—at his request.
Michael Jackson was a grown ass man capable of making grown ass decisions on his own. He knew exactly what he was doing when he directed his doctor to give him propofol.
Look—I know smoking is bad for my health and will eventually lead to cancer and more than likely my death. I know it, the execs at Lorillard Tobacco Company of Greensboro, North Carolina know it, and the clerk at the gas station who sells them to me knows it too. Like Michael Jackson, I am grown and I know with every inhale and exhale exactly what I am putting into my body and the danger it causes. Am I trying to kill myself? No, just like I don’t believe that the suits over at Lorillard Tobacco Company or the businesses that sell cigarettes are trying to kill me. Like Dr. Conrad Murray—they’re in it for the money. So if I die, well then that’s on me. I knew the risks from the first puff.
My decision to smoke is no different from morbidly obese adults who still insist upon eating fast food and refuse to do anything to get down to a healthy weight. When they roll over and die from that Big Mac, large fries, and Coke, whose fault is it, McDonald’s or their own? What about lawmakers whose indecisiveness and partisan bickering over healthcare reform indirectly contribute to preventable deaths because universal or even affordable healthcare wasn’t an option? Are prosecutors going to charge politicians with involuntary manslaughter?
If Dr. Conrad Murray is guilty of anything, it’s ambition, greed, and stupidity. Being the personal doctor of the world’s most famous pop singer isn’t a bad gig if you can get it, nor is the dough associated with it. Now was it worth it? Probably not, but that’s a question only Dr. Murray can answer. As for the stupidity aspect of the whole thing, I truly believe the ambition and greed contributed greatly to it.
Still not convinced Dr. Murray should go free? Consider this.
My grandmother is a diabetic who the doctor told in no uncertain words that if she didn’t leave the salt and the sweets alone, she was going to lose a leg, maybe two, and more than likely die. So when I take her out to eat at Sizzler’s where she piles fried chicken legs onto her plate which eventually lead to her demise, according to L.A. Prosecutor’s reasoning, I should be guilty of involuntary manslaughter as well. I knew she was a diabetic. I knew what the doctor said was going to be the outcome if she ate specific foods. I took her to Sizzler’s and I paid for the bill. There you have it I am guilty.
It’s obvious I love my grandmother, so there’s no malice or intent, not that prosecutors have to prove it anyway for an involuntary manslaughter charge. But if my grandmother should die and the cause was proven to be what she ate well that qualifies as a lawful act performed “without due caution and circumspection.” Lock me up cause’ I’m guilty as charged. And like Dr. Murray who had Jackson’s permission, I had my grandmother’s permission to take her to Sizzler, in fact she specifically asked me to take her to Sizzlers so she could eat those fried chicken legs. Although unlike Dr. Murray, my grandmother wasn’t paying me, but in my defense, she sure does know how to lay the guilt on me when I don’t do what she asks.
If L.A. prosecutors want to charge someone with involuntary manslaughter, they can start with parents who smoked around their children that eventually led to their children being diagnosed with cancer and dying. And if the children didn’t die but contracted asthma or some other form of illness, charge them anyway.
Another good start would be admitting that overweight and obese children whose parents do nothing about their children’s weight and continue to feed their children fast food and sweets are the victims of child abuse therefore holding the parents accountable in a criminal court of law. You see, I believe that unlike Michael Jackson who was grown, children are not adults responsible for their own behavior.
Perhaps even more puzzling in the drama known as the death of Michael Jackson, is that while prosecutors in Chicago couldn’t manage to charge a certain other pop singer with rape or even the possession of child pornography even with video of the crime, here in L.A., our prosecutors found the time to pull a rabbit out of hat under the guise of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a grown ass man who had a penchant for young boys and controlled substances.
Until we’re ready as a society to reexamine what constitutes a criminal offense, including the offenses I cited earlier, anyone looking to blame someone for Michael Jackson’s death should start here… 1712 South Glendale Avenue otherwise known as Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Yeah, I know Michael Jackson’s music was loved, as with that other singer from Chicago, I was a fan too before I found out the truth. But let’s not get crazy here. It’s not like he was cranking out the hits before he died and blaming Dr. Conrad Murray for his death isn’t going to bring Michael back—not that he was “here” technically when he was alive. And if you charge Dr. Murray, why not charge everyone else who technically aided and abetted in the committing of said crime by knowing what was transpiring between Jackson and his doctor and doing nothing about it?
Bottom line—if Dr. Conrad Murray is guilty of involuntary manslaughter I guess the only thing left for me to say is, where is my “Free Dr. Conrad Murray” t-shirt?
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Jasmine,
Insightful article, likely to shed clear light on the issue to even a rabid Michael Jackson fan.
Though I was not a die hard fan, I did appreciate his music, but like you I could not understand the need to charge Dr. Murray. What is the purpose? There obviously was no malicious intent and there is an entire industry built on providing the wealthy with drugs and unnecessary surgery. Is this really for the family and media in this so called post-racial world? (I ask, sarcastically). We do live in a litigious society, so I am sure this is not the end of this issue if Mr. Joe Jackson has his wish.
You also made me rethink my ideas on the singer’s possible pedophilia. I truly believed or hoped that this was not true, but after reading this I wonder. I followed and agreed with you on your Kelly posts, but don’t recall any on Jackson. I’d love a recap on why you are so sure about this.
This is a stupid ass article written by a stupid ass man/woman. You definitely are gulity of being an arse**** of the highest order. Michael Jackson was not a pedophile. He did not have any penchant for young boys. He helped chilren of all ages, sex and race because he loved the children. Stop getting sick ideas in your sick mind and think for yourself for once instead of believeing the tabloids. There is enough eveidence to confirm his innocene.
And you are probably the dumbest person I know to compare cigarette smoking to using propofol. Abosulutely no connection between the two.
Great, great, piece. Wonderful observations about ‘the human condition’.
Let’s blame the doctor or are we ‘projecting’ and he is the symbol of what we dislike in all doctors?
He will not serve a day in jail. Sorry, just a statement of fact.
I loved Michael Jackson, he was a major talent and as you noted in the piece, a grown man.
He was a lucid individual, not as if the doctor was injecting someone who was not of ’sound mind’.
The doctor will lose his license, he will never practice another day in his life. Punishment enough.
But, time behind bars? Nonsense, and these my tax dollars being wasted.
Did you forget that the drug the Doctor gave him is only supposed to be given during surgery? He is at least negligent and should lose his license. What ever happened to the Doctors Oath?
This is the most vile and moronic article I have ever read! Minutes of my life wasted! I should be able to sue. This is sooo wrong in so many ways, it’s disgusting. Your critic complete lacks information and analisis. Try using some real anaologies next time you’re trying to make a point.
Jasmyne: You are 100% correct in your article. Jackson knew what he wanted and the doctor gave it to him. His body probably had so many drugs it could not take any more. Your comments were all perfect.
did this doctor follow protocal when it comes to saving a persons life, no he did not #1 you don’t administer cpr then call 911 when a person needs medical help (no matter who you are or what position you hold) #1`factor call 911 for help. This type of dorctor administers this drug to take you under, he is suppose to stick around until patients comes out of it, if patient does not come out of it , the docter is suppose to administer, a counter acting drug of some kind to stimulate patients heart, did dr conrad do this? I have heard nothing about he tried to revived patient with a stimulant drug of some kind, he administered cpr for a half hour, that is suspect in itself
Thomas Nelson is a moronic person also! Just like you Jasmyne. What a stupid article. I LAUGHED, it was that stupid, how can anyone take this seriously. Michael only had medications the doctor gave him, moronic Tom. How do people even argue “but Michael wanted”????? It doesn’t matter, doctors should practice medicene ethically. If you don’t do so and you KILL someone, you should go to jail. Doctors are supposed to be held very highly.
Jacko was a pedophile. He bleached his skin, chopped up his face, bought 3 kids and was a junkie. How anyone can be a fan of this obvious nutcase is beyond me.
I swore I was not going to pull the guns here but this article leaves me no option.
I am a doctor. Yes, MD with a specialty in Internal Medicine, trained at one of the first top 10 university hospitals in the US, in practice for 15 years and counting. I’m also a smoker and I am overweight.
I am also straight as an arrow in my carreer and my ethics. I don’t leave anything at chance. AND I am a new fan. I started researching MJ after he died due to the propofol involment in his death.
The “doctor” is GUILTY as hell. For one simple reason: he failed to practice responsibly. This is not about what Michael Jackson wanted or the “dough” the doctor was receiving. It is much more than that. It’s dealing irresponsibly with another human life that just happens to be in your hands. That is the power of doctors and it doesn’t come free.
My carrer’s preparation lasted for 10 years prior to being able to prescribed any narcotics, cost me over 250,000 american dollars, many summers buried in books and too many sleepless nights to count while this bitch who wrote this article was probably fucking.
I don’t think MJ had a penchant for young boys. I don’t think MJ had a penchant for prescription medication. I don’t think MJ could have tell ME what to do as a doctor. It simply don’t work that way. What this man had was intense emotional pain that he selfmedicated with drugs he obtained by lying to doctors, some good ones and some bad ones. Whatever the intensity of his addiction it was well overcomed at the time of his death. There’s not a shred of molecule in that blood that pointed to nothing else besides what Murray gave him. His prescribed medication bottles show he used them sparingly. The doses he was on are baby dosages compared to what an addict to prescription medication uses.
The comparisons this woman do only show her ignorance about medicine, addiction and the law. You all, I’m sure can make huge holes in her arguments.
The fact that I am a smoker doesn’t mean I will invite or encourage or prescribe or buy my smoking patients cigarretts. If my grandmother had diabetes you bet your ass I would work hard to keep her on a diet. Love DO have RESPONSIBILITIES.
Would I have given MJ propofol? Sure! UNDER MY TERMS> And he would still be ALIVE. An ICU standard of care unit with EVERYTHING needed to suppport this man’s cardiorespiratory system if needed, full ICU nurses monitoring the patient AT ALL TIMES, all the drugs needed to treat ANY complications, pacemakers, lines, ETT, ventilator, you name it, it was going to be there if he wanted to have propofol by my hands. Is it right? No, it’s not right. But here is the essence of Murray’s ordeal: he was IRRESPONSIBLE, unable to respond. What he did is criminal and I am sure if any of you finds yourself in the situation where you loose someone at the hands of an irresposnsible doctor you’ll sue his ass like there’s no tomorrow. And you should and will win.
If my mother makes me all kinds of cakes and fried chicken with french fries for breakfast and the fridge is full of ice cream, chocolates and she spends half her alimony buying food for me to eat, sure as hell she’s responsible for my death. It’s called passive agreesion, psychological abuse by allowing me to eat to death. The pathology of morbid obesity involves the family dinamics to a grater extend thatn feeding habits. There’s a victim and the one that creates and perpetuates the victim for her/his own pathologic psychological needs. The therapy in such cases, humans weighting 800 pounds is aimed at the family who PERPETUATE the disorder. This people can’t get out of bed to get food. Someone gies it to them. They are irresponsible with someone’s life who depends on them. So, don’t give me that bullshit that such patients are responsible. That’s heinuous
I feel that he should lose his license, but not be imprisoned with hardened criminals. He should lose his license because he broke ethical laws within his profession; there should be a penalty for that. Your smoking example was not a great one. Selling and providing cigarettes is NOT illegal. Administering all of those drugs to Michael was. There are people who willingly use heroin; that doesn’t mean that the sellers should not be punished. Conrad Murray has to suffer some consequence for his decisions. Michael already paid for his own.
Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve read something that lacked so much fact and contained to many bad comparisons all in an effort to simple write something shocking. Regardless of what you think of Michael Jackson or the fact that he paid a doctor rather large sums of money to provide and administer this drug illegally, it is still criminal. Clearly there was something wrong with Michael Jackson’s judgment to want this and clearly there is something wrong with a doctor who did something that he had to know was wrong. And no, this is nothing like taking your diabetic granny to Sizzler if for no other reason than she ordered and fed herself. She pulled her own trigger. Michael Jackson did not administer the drug to himself and that alone should get the doctor’s license pulled. The doctor compromised himself and his career for money and someone died. Michael Jackson paid his price now it is time for the accomplice to pay his. In many states if this were an armed robbery, the person driving the get away car goes to prison right along with the triggerman. Your article seems to make light of a very tragic situation and it will probably attract more readers to your blog but frankly, I thought you were better than that Jasmyne.
This is the most ridiculous reasoning I’ve ever heard. As a smoker myself, I know what I am doing to my body. BUT there isn’t a doctor in the world who would have bought me a pack, put a cigarette in my mouth, and then lit it for me. Same with the grandma theory. I don’t think you’d be able to find a doctor out there who would take your diabetic grandmother out for a plate of sizzler’s finest.
Bottom line is that Murray is a doctor and should have known better. His PROFESSION, which he was being paid a lot of money to perform, is to provide care for the patient. Not give the patient what he wants. And should he decide to do that anyway, he should have at the very least taken the necessary precautions. He did not. He was grossly negligent in performing the duties of his JOB and a man died. Yes, he should be held accountable.
This article is great even if it’s just for the song. Anyway, it seems like the prosecutor’s office has plenty of time and money for this stuff but they can’t be bothered with testing the back log of rape DNA. Might as well concentrate all our furloughs in the DA’s office – they don’t do anything but stir up trouble anyway.
Firstly, I’m not a Michael Jackson Worshipper!!!!!!
Now to my criticism of your article.
If your Grandmother died because you fed her food that could kill her, that’s VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER because you knew it would kill her. I mean that’s like feeding food that contains nuts to a person who is allergic to nuts. Some people would call that a Felony Murder!
If you have recently discovered you had diabetes, its almost impossible to change your lifestyle without the help of a loved one or a friend. I know loads of people who have got diabetes later in life and I know how it affects different people.
Now back to Murray. A Doctor must live and work by principles. They should only carry out task if they believe its the right thing to do. This makes sense because they should automatically know that a mistake could ruin a persons life or kill them. They should only administer medication only when they believe its the best solution (obviously). This man went for the money. He gave Michael Propofol for the sake of his oversized wages. That’s even if Michael had even requested Propofol because we don’t actually know yet. Its not yet a concrete fact. At the very least he wasn’t fully aware of the dangers of such a powerful anaesthetic.
Now do you still think Murray is so innocent. He’s a cardiologist so he’s definitely not stupid.
I agree with MONA and “quasi” with Gospel ( only because I am concerned about the quality of your writing verses your alleged accomplishments). I found this website because of the research I was led to do concerning Mitrice. I had forgotten that this is a ‘pseudo’ gathering of homosexual characters.
Concerning Mr. Michael Jackson, the larger part of society will NEVER KNOW what has transpired~~~~~~~~~~~~and honestly IT IS NOT OUR BUSINESS. I do NOT think that MICHAEL is/was ‘abnormal’ in any way and I also do NOT think that he is DEAD. Someone has stated that this trial will NOT COMMENCE until 2012~~~~~somethings WRONG~~~~~~~~~just pay attention/be quiet and LISTEN.
No matter what has transpired, what MR. M.I.C.H.A.E.L. Jackson has been subjected to is NOT antiquated but instead is LIVING History. “WAKE-UP” everybody (harold melvin, the bluenotes ,teddy pendergrass).