Expert Testifies on Jackson's Propofol Use
Addiction expert Dr. Robert Waldman testified for the defense team Thursday that he believed Michael Jackson's medical records showed the singer developed an addiction to pain medicine in the months before his death.
Dr. Waldman said Jackson was receiving "above-average doses" of the painkiller Demerol from Jackson's dermatologist Dr. Arnold Klein, during treatment to reduce wrinkles, excessive perspiration, and that the singer was "possibly" addicted to the medicine.
"I believe there is evidence that he was dependent on Demerol, possibly," Waldman said.
Klein is not accused of wrongdoing and will not be called as a witness during the trial. Waldman testified that medical procedures such as botox are not painful or require painkillers.
"I believe there was evidence that he was dependent upon Demerol," Walman said, "My opinion is that based upon my prior definition and what's known about his public behavior and this course of treatment that he was probably addicted to opiodes,"
The addiction expert said a symptom of Demerol withdrawal is insomnia, which fits with statements that the pop singer complained that he couldn't sleep while he was preparing for his comeback tour, "This is It."
Dr. Waldman also told the jury he was not board-certfied in addiction medicine and has not treated a case of Demerol addiction in recent memory.
Under cross-examination by Deputy District Attorney David Walgren, Dr. Waldman changed his statement that Jackson was addicted based solely on Dr. Klein's medical records.
"Would you diagnose Michael Jackson as addicted to Demerol based strictly on these documents in my hand, yes or no?" Walden asked holding medical records provided by the defense.
"Probably not," Waldman answered.
Attorneys for Dr. Conrad Murray, 58, the personal physician of Jackson, have suggested that Jackson was undergoing withdrawals from Demerol before his death on June 25, 2009 from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol. Death records later show that nearly none of that drug was found in Jackson's system when he died.
Dr. Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection to Jackson's death. Defense attorneys argue that Jackson gave himself the fatal dose of the anesthetic propofol.
Although several prosecution experts have said self-administration would not be possible.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor told Murray on Wednesday that he would ask him at the end of the defense case if he has made his own decision whether to testify.
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