Anesthesia Experts Testify at Trial for Michael Jackson's Physician

Steven Shafer, MD, a leading expert on the anesthetic propofol, testified in the case of Conrad Murray, MD, the physician who decided to administer profopol to late singer Michael Jackson, according to an LA Times report.

Jurors heard from Dr. Shafer on Thursday that although patients can wake up from propofol in minutes even after being sedated for up to 10 days, the administration of the anesthetic can go wrong just as easily. If the anesthesiologist it off and administers too much propofol, the patient can take hours to awake from the sedation.

Nader Kamangar, MD, a UCLA associate professor who reviewed the case for the California Medical Board, also testified on Thursday that Dr. Murray's decision to administer propofol in addition to other sedatives without proper monitoring was a "recipe for disaster."

Dr. Kamangar said Dr. Murray's actions in dispensing the anesthetic in a home setting without proper monitoring or documentation, delaying calling 911 and making subpar attempts at resuscitation directly led to Mr. Jackson's death.

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