Jackson's Drugs Regime A 'Never-Never Land'

An expert at the trial of the doctor accused of killing Michael Jackson has said the way the pop star was given drugs was a "pharmacological Never-Never Land".

Dr Steven Shafer, a leading expert on the anaesthetic propofol, said it was almost unheard of to give the drug as a treatment for insomnia when normally it is used before surgery in hospitals.

"We are in pharmacological 'Never Never Land' here," he said, "something that's only been done to Michael Jackson."

Dr Shafer took the stand as the final prosecution witness in the trial of Dr Conrad Murray, who denies involuntary manslaughter.

He catalogued what he said were Murray's failures as Jackson's personal physician, starting with agreeing to the pop star's request to be given propofol as a sleep aid at his rented Los Angeles mansion.

"Conrad Murray said yes, and that is what an employee does," said Dr Shafer. "And I do not see a difference between Conrad Murray saying yes to a request that Michael Jackson is making, and an employee who cleans the house agreeing to a request of Michael Jackson.''

Dr Shafer gave 17 instances of how Murray's treatment of Jackson on June 25, 2009 - the day the singer died - constituted "egregious" violations of common medical standards.

He blasted Murray over the 20 minutes that elapsed between the time prosecutors believe he discovered Jackson had stopped breathing and the moment an ambulance was called.

"It's just inconceivable to me. A physician would not do that.''

Dr Shafer, a professor at Columbia University and who helped set US standards for propofol dosage, criticised Murray for not keeping medical records while he was giving Jackson nightly doses of propofol for more than two months.

"The family has a right to know what happened and with no medical record the family has been denied that right,'' he said, raising his voice.

The jury heard that an essential heart monitor with an alarm was missing from Jackson's care and would have saved his life.

Dr Shafer concluded: "It was a set up for disaster, a serious violation that contributed to the death of Michael Jackson ."

The defence is expected to begin presenting its case on Friday.

Murray faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison if convicted.

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