Expert: Michael Jackson Was Probably an Addict

An expert on propofol, the powerful anesthetic that killed Michael Jackson, testified Thursday that the singer should not have died from the amount of the drug his personal physician claimed to have given him.

"I thought that there were questions if in fact (Dr. Conrad) Murray had administered the drugs he described in his conversation with the (police) ... I would not have expected Michael Jackson to have died," anesthesiologist Paul White testified in Murray's involuntary manslaughter trial.

Murray faces up to four years in prison if convicted of the felony charge stemming from Jackson's June 25, 2009, death from acute propofol intoxication.

Under questioning by defense attorney J. Michael Flanagan, White said he initially resisted becoming involved in the case when contacted by Murray's attorneys.

Describing himself as "a private person," White said he didn't want any part of the death of a celebrity "icon."

However, White said after reading reports by various experts, he became "perplexed" about their conclusions regarding Murray's use of propofol and said he could "absolutely not" support prosecution claims that the doctor had misused the drug or mistreated Jackson.

Prosecutors allege the 58-year-old Murray, who was treating Jackson at his rented Holmby Hills estate, gave him a fatal intravenous dose of propofol, then spent about 45 minutes on the phone or sending emails without monitoring him.

In his opening statement, defense attorney Edward Chernoff countered that the evidence would show Jackson "self-administered a dose of propofol" after Murray left the room, which "created a perfect storm" and "killed him instantly."

Murray told police he only left Jackson's side for about two minutes to use the bathroom after giving the singer a small amount of propofol.

White, who conducted some of the original testing of propofol before it was approved for use, said he first speculated that oral ingestion of propofol may have been a factor in the entertainer's death. Defense attorneys have since dropped the claim that Jackson drank a fatal dose when Murray left the singer's bedroom.

Murray told police he had been giving Jackson propofol to treat his insomnia.

Flanagan questioned White about a recent study showing that propofol can actually be used for sleep disorders in some cases. The study was dismissed by the prosecution's propofol expert, Dr. Steven Shafer, because it excluded some critical information.

White conceded that some information -- such as infusion rates -- was missing from the report, but he still found it "a very interesting study."

"I think it was a very interesting study in terms of outcome," White said. "They showed that using propofol in this way was safe and effective for normalizing disturbed sleep in patients who had chronic ... insomnia. And certainly it's not a definitive study, but as a first study I thought it was quite interesting. So I would have a different take. And I think it would be unfortunate if ... the authors of that paper were not given an opportunity to at least have their paper reviewed by experts in the field."

Earlier today, addiction specialist Dr. Robert Waldman testified that Jackson's dermatologist was giving the singer "above average" doses of Demerol for no apparent reason in the weeks and months before his death on June 25, 2009, and the singer was "possibly" addicted to the pain-killer.

Waldman said Dr. Arnold Klein used Botox and Restylane on the entertainer -- who went by the alias "Omar Arnold" -- to smooth out wrinkles. Klein also attempted to reduce Jackson's sweating by injecting Botox into his armpits and elsewhere, he said.

Under questioning from Chernoff, Waldman testified that such medical procedures were not painful and should not require painkillers.

"I believe there was evidence that he (Jackson) was dependent upon Demerol," Waldman told the seven-man, five-woman jury.

"What about addicted?" Chernoff asked.

"Possibly," Waldman answered. "... My opinion is that based upon my prior definition and what's known about his public behavior and this course of treatment that he was probably addicted to opioids."

Under cross-examination by Deputy District Attorney David Walgren, however, Waldman backed away from his opinion that Jackson was possibly addicted, based solely on Klein's medical records.

"Would you diagnose Michael Jackson as addicted to Demerol based strictly on these documents in my hand, yes or no?" Walgren asked, holding up a stack of medical records.

"Probably not," Waldman answered.

Chernoff displayed for the jury portions of Klein's medical records showing that, for example, Jackson had 900 milligrams of Demerol at the dermatologist's Beverly Hills clinic during one three-day period in May 2009.

Waldman called the doses "stiff," testifying that frequent use of the painkiller in such amounts would result in a physical dependence on the drug "in any of us."

Waldman and Walgren had a sometimes-heated exchange as the