Doctor didn’t say he gave Jackson drug, paramedic tells trial

THE doctor charged with Michael Jackson’s death did not reveal that he had given the singer a powerful anaesthetic, a paramedic has told the jury

Richard Senneff, the first paramedic to reach the singer’s bedroom, said Dr Conrad Murray told him that he had only given Jackson the sedative lorazepam.

He also said the initial information he received from the physician about the singer’s condition “did not add up”.

Mr Senneff said Dr Murray had told him that Jackson was not being treated for any specific condition.

But he told the court in Los Angeles that this information did not seem correct because Jackson appeared to be underweight, had a surgical cap on his head and there was an IV bag hanging from a stand nearby.

Murray eventually told medics that he was treating the singer for exhaustion and dehydration, the paramedic said.

However, he said the doctor did not mention that he had been giving Jackson the surgical anaesthetic propofol to help the singer sleep.

Mr Senneff also said Murray appeared frantic when the he arrived in the bedroom on the day of Jackson’s death on 25 June, 2009.

He asked Murray what condition the pop star had on three occasions before the doctor answered.

“He said, ‘Nothing. He has nothing’.” Mr Senneff said. “Simply, that did not add up to me.”

Examining the body, Mr Senneff said Jackson was cool to the touch, his eyes were open and dry, and he had an IV in his leg.

Mr Senneff was one of four paramedics who tried to revive Jackson.

He and fellow paramedic Martin Blount had already testified at a preliminary hearing that Murray never mentioned giving Jackson propofol and told them the singer lost consciousness moments before an ambulance was called.

Both men believed the singer had died by the time they arrived, but Murray insisted Jackson be taken to a hospital for further attempts to resuscitate.

Mr Senneff said that after trying multiple heart-starting medications and other efforts, Jackson was still lifeless.

Emergency room staff at a nearby hospital had advised him to declare Jackson dead in his bedroom, but the singer was transported because Murray wanted life-saving efforts to continue, he said.

Prosecutors contend that the Houston-based cardiologist repeatedly lied to medics and emergency room doctors about medications he had been giving Jackson in the singer’s bedroom.

Authorities believe Murray administered a fatal dose of propofol and other sedatives, while the doctor’s lawyers claim Jackson gave himself the fatal dose after his doctor left the room.

Murray, 58, has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter. If convicted, he could face up to four years in prison and lose his medical licence.

The court also heard testimony yesterday from the executive of a company that manufactured a medical device used by the doctor to monitor the singer.

Nonin Medical executive Bob Johnson told jurors the equipment was not adequate for continuous monitoring of patients.

The fingertip device that monitors the pulse and blood oxygen levels was recovered after Jackson’s death and was being used by Murray while he was giving the singer doses of propofol.

Prosecutors believe Murray lacked enough equipment to care properly for the singer during the treatment, given that propofol is normally administered only in a hospital setting.

Mr Johnson said the model that Murray used had no audible alarm and was not intended to be used for the continuous monitoring of patients.

The case continues.