Conrad Murray has been slapped with a new round of allegations from the Medical Board of California. . . . The medical board filed its first round of charges against Murray in February 2012. This new amended accusation is dated June 27, 2012.
In the accusation against Murray filed in February, there were two causes for action: conviction of a crime and failure to maintain adequate records. As I wrote at the time, the document seemed like fill-in-the-blank boilerplate, with more space devoted to the state code Murray violated than the details of the violations.
The amended accusation still includes the conviction and records violations, but it adds “gross negligence-inappropriate administration of dangerous drugs,” “repeated negligent acts-inappropriate administration of dangerous drugs,” and “incompetence-inappropriate administration of dangerous drugs.”
The new charges are much more detailed and provide a full explanation of just how far Murray strayed outside the standards of practice when administering the anesthetic propofol — and other drugs — to Jackson. It breaks down the “gross negligence” violation into four parts. Here are quotes from each:
Excessive administration of dangerous drugs/sedatives:
Propofol is not indicated for the induction of sleep and/or to treat insomnia. It is strictly indicated for moderate or deep sedation in a monitored hospital setting, or an accredited outpatient facility that meets the requirements set forth in Health and Safety Code sections 1248.1 and 1248.15. … [Murray] used dangerous drugs to sedate patient M.J. at his home for the purpose of inducing sleep. On more than 40 occasions between April 2009 and June 25, 2009, patient M.J. was sedated with a combination of benzodiazepines and propofol.
Inadequate monitoring:
The patient is required to have a continuous oxygen delivery system, continuous cardiac monitoring, a continuous intravenous access line established, continuous pulse oximetry monitoring, and continuous blood pressure monitoring, all with audible alert systems. In addition, the following operable equipment is necessary in the room and must be ready for use: oxygen, suction, oral and nasopharyngeal airways, a crash cart with backboard, appropriate emergency resuscitation drugs, and a defibrillator. … [Murray’s] failure to secure appropriate equipment for patient monitoring and his failure to maintain emergency equipment and medications is an extreme departure from the standard of care. Furthermore, no competent physician or surgeon would sedate a patient without ensuring that the appropriate patient monitoring and equipment is readily available.
Failure to maintain medical records:
When a patient is administered medications for sedation and/or anesthesia the standard of care requires that the physician maintain medical records detailing the care rendered to the patient. Documentation of sedation and anesthesia is required for the provision of good medical care and quality assurance.
The board sums it up this way:
[Murray] failed to appropriately monitor patient M.J. He abandoned his patient by leaving M.J. unattended while he was under the influence of heavy sedatives. In addition, he administered propofol and other dangerous drugs to patient M.J. in a home setting without appropriate medical equipment and staff to monitor the maintenance of patient M.J.’s hemodynamics, and did not continuously monitor the patient’s vital signs.
Board-certified anesthesiologist and author Dr. Barry Friedberg responds to the news of Murray being hit with new charges from the California Medical Board:
Before Paul White was retained, as a recognized propofol expert, I was asked, by Murray’s attorney, Michael Flanagan, to defend Conrad Murray’s care of Michael Jackson.
In Flanagan’s attempt to impress me, I was told Murray was such a ‘great’ doctor he didn’t start an IV when performing cardioversion. Flanagan represented that Murray simply put the propofol directly into the patient’s vein.
Upon hearing this description of Murray’s usual practice, my jaw dropped open & my eyes grew large with astonishment & disbelief.
I told Mr. Flanagan that he DID impress me but NOT in the manner in which he was intending. I added there was not any language to adequately describe the degree of recklessness that such an act would involve.
Although Murray had hospital privileges to perform cardiac catheterization with propopfol sedation with audible pulse oximetry monitoring, it is clear from his above described conduct, in addition to the ‘care’ of Michael Jackson, that Murray does not believe the usual safety precautions apply to him. It is not a lack of knowledge that led Murray to conduct himself in such a regular, reckless manner but the fact he is a sociopath.
Murray is a disgrace to the medial profession and never deserves to again hold a license to practice.
-Dr. Barry Friedberg
SOURCE: SAFEGATE
My question...will this land him more jail time? and/or permanently revoke his rights to practice medicine?
In the accusation against Murray filed in February, there were two causes for action: conviction of a crime and failure to maintain adequate records. As I wrote at the time, the document seemed like fill-in-the-blank boilerplate, with more space devoted to the state code Murray violated than the details of the violations.
The amended accusation still includes the conviction and records violations, but it adds “gross negligence-inappropriate administration of dangerous drugs,” “repeated negligent acts-inappropriate administration of dangerous drugs,” and “incompetence-inappropriate administration of dangerous drugs.”
The new charges are much more detailed and provide a full explanation of just how far Murray strayed outside the standards of practice when administering the anesthetic propofol — and other drugs — to Jackson. It breaks down the “gross negligence” violation into four parts. Here are quotes from each:
Excessive administration of dangerous drugs/sedatives:
Propofol is not indicated for the induction of sleep and/or to treat insomnia. It is strictly indicated for moderate or deep sedation in a monitored hospital setting, or an accredited outpatient facility that meets the requirements set forth in Health and Safety Code sections 1248.1 and 1248.15. … [Murray] used dangerous drugs to sedate patient M.J. at his home for the purpose of inducing sleep. On more than 40 occasions between April 2009 and June 25, 2009, patient M.J. was sedated with a combination of benzodiazepines and propofol.
Inadequate monitoring:
The patient is required to have a continuous oxygen delivery system, continuous cardiac monitoring, a continuous intravenous access line established, continuous pulse oximetry monitoring, and continuous blood pressure monitoring, all with audible alert systems. In addition, the following operable equipment is necessary in the room and must be ready for use: oxygen, suction, oral and nasopharyngeal airways, a crash cart with backboard, appropriate emergency resuscitation drugs, and a defibrillator. … [Murray’s] failure to secure appropriate equipment for patient monitoring and his failure to maintain emergency equipment and medications is an extreme departure from the standard of care. Furthermore, no competent physician or surgeon would sedate a patient without ensuring that the appropriate patient monitoring and equipment is readily available.
Failure to maintain medical records:
When a patient is administered medications for sedation and/or anesthesia the standard of care requires that the physician maintain medical records detailing the care rendered to the patient. Documentation of sedation and anesthesia is required for the provision of good medical care and quality assurance.
The board sums it up this way:
[Murray] failed to appropriately monitor patient M.J. He abandoned his patient by leaving M.J. unattended while he was under the influence of heavy sedatives. In addition, he administered propofol and other dangerous drugs to patient M.J. in a home setting without appropriate medical equipment and staff to monitor the maintenance of patient M.J.’s hemodynamics, and did not continuously monitor the patient’s vital signs.
Board-certified anesthesiologist and author Dr. Barry Friedberg responds to the news of Murray being hit with new charges from the California Medical Board:
Before Paul White was retained, as a recognized propofol expert, I was asked, by Murray’s attorney, Michael Flanagan, to defend Conrad Murray’s care of Michael Jackson.
In Flanagan’s attempt to impress me, I was told Murray was such a ‘great’ doctor he didn’t start an IV when performing cardioversion. Flanagan represented that Murray simply put the propofol directly into the patient’s vein.
Upon hearing this description of Murray’s usual practice, my jaw dropped open & my eyes grew large with astonishment & disbelief.
I told Mr. Flanagan that he DID impress me but NOT in the manner in which he was intending. I added there was not any language to adequately describe the degree of recklessness that such an act would involve.
Although Murray had hospital privileges to perform cardiac catheterization with propopfol sedation with audible pulse oximetry monitoring, it is clear from his above described conduct, in addition to the ‘care’ of Michael Jackson, that Murray does not believe the usual safety precautions apply to him. It is not a lack of knowledge that led Murray to conduct himself in such a regular, reckless manner but the fact he is a sociopath.
Murray is a disgrace to the medial profession and never deserves to again hold a license to practice.
-Dr. Barry Friedberg
SOURCE: SAFEGATE
My question...will this land him more jail time? and/or permanently revoke his rights to practice medicine?
hnoyoudidnt Hhmph!