The Good Doctor

Well, you know what they say about first impressions and Dr. Conrad Murray didn't make a good impression on me from the start. Ever since I learned about his presence at Michael Jackson's home and prompt disappearance on the day of his death, I have been suspicious of the good doctor and I'll tell you why. I have seen veterinarians care for a dying animal and show more sensitivity toward the grieving family of a pet than Michael and the Jackson family received from Dr. Murray. I speak from experience when I say this because I had to go through the gut-wrenching loss of a family pet we had for 16 years in 2004. The care, concern, and sensitivity that we were shown during that process by the veterinary hospital and staff was unbelievable. They even sent us a sympathy card a few days after our beloved "Pebbles" (a Tabby cat) passed away. Did Michael and his family, who are human beings, deserve any less?

On that fateful day of June 25, 2009, my husband and I heard on the radio that Michael had been rushed to the hospital because he had gone into cardiac arrest, just as we were returning home from work together in the car and pulling into the parking space in front of our home. We quickly got out of the car and promptly went into the house to turn on the TV so we could stay informed about his condition. Within approximately 20 minutes of cutting the TV on, we learned that Michael was in a coma and things were not looking good for the "King of Pop". About 10 minutes later, it was announced that he had passed away. We were both shocked, and stunned, to say the least, just like everyone else around the world. As the sequence of events that occurred at Michael's home prior to his death began to unfold later that evening and in the days that followed, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. What? There was a doctor there and he just "upped" and left him there to die? Where did the good doctor go?

Even though it pains me to say it, in hindsight, I feel that Michael probably died in his home, before the 911 call was made and he was taken to the hospital. At the very least, the Michael Jackson that all of us had come know and love was lost to us forever because the response time to cardiac arrest needs to be quick and expedient. Supposedly, there were two key players with Michael in his home at that time... the person who called 911 for help and Dr. Conrad Murray, who was (no doubt) trying to frantically "revive" Michael but, to no avail. Apparently, when it became obvious to the good doctor that Michael wasn't responding, instead of staying with his patient until the ambulance arrived and accompanying Michael to the hospital, his thoughts immediately turned to himself and he decided to abandon Michael, for reasons that I'm sure will manifest themselves to all of us in the days to come. If you put the sequence of events that lead up to Michael's death in a more "normal" context, this is what should have happened:

(1) Michael goes into cardiac arrest at home with his doctor and another person present.

(2) The doctor responds by trying to save his life anyway that he can.

(3) Michael isn't responding so, the other person present calls 911 for emergency assistance.

(4) The doctor stays with Michael and continues to do what he can for him until the ambulance arrives.

(5) The ambulance arrives and paramedics do what they can to save Michael's life.

(6) The decision is made to take Michael to the hospital.

(7) The doctor accompanies Michael to the hospital or, at the very least, agrees to meet the ambulance there.

(8) The paramedics and doctor let the hospital staff know about Michael's condition upon arrival.

(9) The doctors and staff at the hospital take over and do what they can to save Michael's life.

(10) The doctors and staff at the hospital staff are not successful in saving Michael and he is officially pronounced dead.

(11) The hospital doctors, along with Michael's doctor, go to the family together (or appoint a spokesperson) to give them the news.

(12) The hospital doctors, along with Michael's doctor, stay with the family long enough to answer questions and respond to any concerns that they might have surrounding Michael's death.

I know that I'm not a doctor and I don't work in a hospital either. I'm even willing to admit that some of what I outlined above may stem from the fact that I am guilty of watching too many medical shows on TV over the years. But, what I can tell you is that I have received enough care from doctors, in and out of the hospital, to know that Dr. Murray's response and behavior toward Michael while his life was "hanging in the balance" didn't even closely resemble what a doctor would do who is genuinely concerned about his patient's welfare. When you add the good doctor's total lack of sensitivity and regard for Michael's family to the mix, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that something was dreadfully wrong about the way all of this happened.

I know that here in America, everyone is supposed to be presumed "innocent" until they are proven guilty so, I must refrain from outright accusing Dr. Murray of anything. However, it does appear that the police are finally beginning to take a serious look at the good doctor. My only question is, what in the world took them so long? I also think that before this is all over, we are going to learn about many more doctors who did not have Michael's best interest at heart over the last several years of his life and played a prominent role in his ultimate demise. It has always been my understanding that doctors take an oath to save lives and, therefore, should not participate in any activities that would help their patients to destroy their lives. If you know that someone is on a path that will ultimately destroy them, you shouldn't walk down that road with them and be an active participant in their destruction.

If it turns out that Dr. Murray did, indeed, have anything to do with Michael's death, time will surely tell. Recent reports indicate that the good doctor is in extreme financial debt and jumped at the $ 150,000-a-month offer made by Michael's promoter to "keep Michael healthy" during what would have been a series of upcoming concerts in London. Well, it's beginning to look like Dr. Murray did anything "but" keep Michael healthy and even the way he handled his death is questionable. As for any other doctors who assisted Michael over the years in doing things that were completely unethical to their profession, they should and will be held accountable to a much higher authority. Their only saving grace (according to "man's law") is the fact that Michael didn't die under their watch but, they contributed to his ultimate fate just the same. It should also be said that the justice system should not try to make Dr. Conrad Murray "take the fall" for all of the previous doctors that treated Michael. The bottom line is, only one doctor may be responsible for the lethal events that occurred on June 25th and I hope (for his sake) that it is not Dr. Murray. Would you want to be forever remembered as the man who "had a hand" in Michael Jackson's death?