1

Chapter 6 Case in Point - Michael Jackson

Name

Professor’s name

Course

Date
 2

Chapter 6 Case in Point - Michael Jackson

Do doctors have a responsibility to their patient's welfare and prevention of abuse?

Interpersonal violence and abuse are a danger for all patients, which can have a negative impact

on their health and capacity to follow medical advice. Physicians have an ethical duty to take

appropriate action to prevent the damages caused by violence and abuse in light of their

obligation to support the well-being of their patients. A competent doctor should care for their

patients to uphold the dignity and honor of their profession. A doctor must respond to any patient

request assistance in case of an emergency and no registered medical practitioner shall commit

an act of negligence that may deprive their patients from necessary medical care. One the doctor

and patient have established a relationship, there is a duty to care and to act and this makes the

doctors liable for a negligent omission to act.

Was Michael Jackson's doctor's punishment justified?

Yes, his punishment was justified. D. r Conrad Murray was found guilty of involuntary

manslaughter, the court found him of unconscionable behavior and neglect of his celebrity

patient. Murray probably left Jackson unattended to for 35-40 minutes and not two minutes as

Murray said. The prosecutors sought to prove that Dr. Murray broke recognized medical practice

by not only delivering propofol to Jackson without monitoring devices, but also by neglecting to

contact 911 immediately after his patient died. The trial centered on whether Dr. Murray failed in

his duties as a doctor by irresponsibly administering propofol, a potent anesthetic, to Jackson, 50,

at home. Propofol is generally administered in hospitals with strict supervision. Before

pronouncing the punishment, Judge Michael E. Pastor chastised Dr. Murray for his lack of

contrition. The court stated, "To hear Dr. Murray explain it, Dr. Murray was a bystander." "Talk
 3

about victim blaming." Not only is there no sorrow, but there is also a sense of umbrage and

indignation." (Norman et al 2021).

Reference
 4

Norman, G. A. V., & Rosen, J. S. (2021). Criminal Homicide Versus Medical Malpractice:

Lessons from the Michael Jackson Case and Others.

Pediatric Sedation Outside of the Operating Room, 813-

825.