Jackson doctor goes back to work

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Dr Murray has denied he caused Michael Jackson’s death

Michael Jackson’s former doctor, who is facing a manslaughter charge following the singer’s death last June, has returned to work in Nevada.

Dr Conrad Murray was bailed for $75,000 (£48,000) after pleading not guilty to "unlawfully" killing the star, at a court in Los Angeles earlier this week.

If convicted he may face four years in jail. He is due back in court in April.

Dr Murray’s lawyer, Edward Chernoff, has stressed the 56-year-old intends "to keep practising medicine".

Miranda Sevcik, a spokeswoman for Dr Murray and Mr Chernoff, said the doctor was making arrangements to work out of another physician’s office in Las Vegas, having closed his own premises in the city last August.

"We’re not sharing the location because the doctor’s primary concern is for his patients’ privacy," said Sevcik.

We’ll make bail, we’ll plead not guilty and we’ll fight like hell Lawyer Ed Chernoff, speaking in Los Angeles earlier this week Profile: Dr Conrad Murray Life in pictures: Michael Jackson

Under the terms of his bail, Dr Murray is allowed to continue to practise medicine, but cannot use certain drugs.

Judge Keith Schwartz told Dr Murray on Monday: "You may not under any circumstances use any anaesthetic agents, specifically Propofol.

Dr Murray, a cardiologist, continues to operate his other practice in Houston, having resumed work there in November.

He is licensed to practise medicine in Nevada, Texas and California, although the California Medical Board is preparing to seek removal of his licence there.

Insomnia

Jackson died at his home on 25 June last year at the age of 50. His death was ruled as homicide, mainly caused by the anaesthetic Propofol.

Dr Murray had been hired to be Jackson’s personal physician last spring as the singer prepared for his comeback concerts in London.

He told police he had been giving Jackson Propofol as part of his treatment for insomnia, according to an affidavit made public in August.

But he has always maintained he neither prescribed nor administered anything that should have killed the singer.

Prosecutors had filed one count of involuntary manslaughter.

A hearing has been set for 5 April in Los Angeles.

Jackson doctor goes back to work

About Entertainment – Magazine –

Janet Jackson (r) has blamed Dr Murray (l) for her brother’s death

Michael Jackson’s doctor has returned to work at his Houston medical clinic for the first time since before the pop star’s death in June.

A lawyer for Conrad Murray said he "plans to attend to patients in both Las Vegas and Houston".

The move, he said, was partially due to "a deteriorating financial condition".

The statement follows an interview by Jackson’s sister Janet in which she said Dr Murray should no longer be allowed to practice medicine.

"He was the one that was administering," she said last week. "I think he is responsible."

Dr Murray has been the focus of a homicide investigation in Los Angeles since telling police he gave Jackson the powerful anaesthetic Propofol to help him sleep.

Legal fees

The cardiologist had been hired to be Jackson’s personal physician and was with the 50-year-old at the time of his death in June.

Murray, who has not been charged with a crime, maintains he neither prescribed nor administered anything to Jackson that killed him.

Michael Jackson’s death was ruled as homicide in August

In a statement, his lawyer Ed Chernoff said he returned to work on Friday at the "prompting by many of his beloved patients."

"His legal fees are enormous and his debts have mounted to the point where it is unclear whether he will be able to keep his house or support his family," he told the Associated Press news agency on Sunday.

"His intentions are to attend to these patients who have continued to support him."

Murray last worked at the clinic in April before suspending his regular practices in Las Vegas and Houston to become Jackson’s personal physician.

Chernoff said Murray, who lives in Las Vegas, was never paid for the time he worked for the singer.