This is it! After more than 10 hours of deliberation, the jury has found Dr. Conrad Murray guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
I spent a lot of time outside the courthouse with throngs of supporters for both Michael Jackson and Conrad Murray. These were passionate people. Sometimes that passion erupted into confrontation. For some it led to a feeling of family with other supporters.
But there was nothing like the emotion expressed today. Once word got out that a verdict was in, crowds flooded the area outside the courthouse. A sea of humanity -- every single one of them on pins and needles awaiting the verdict. There were signs, and chants and tears…and this is BEFORE the verdict was read.
As the hour drew closer, the intensity grew. But it was a silent intensity. There was still some occasional chanting, but for the most part there was a quiet, nervous feeling over the crowd. Everyone was packed together on the sidewalk almost holding their breath for the verdict. It was so tight that there were people pressed in on all sides. There were people praying. I heard one woman praying to God for a guilty verdict. That should tell you how intense these people were.
And then the verdict was read.
Guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
And immediately there was a scream. A group of Jackson supporters screamed and began crying and hugging in the hallway outside the courtroom. Out on the street, the reaction was similar. People were screaming, crying, hugging and cheering. A woman fainted and was taken away by ambulance. People were thanking God for justice for Michael Jackson.
There were chants of the Prosecutor’s name “Walgren, Walgren, Walgren!”
At the same time, there were some Conrad Murray supporters loudly booing the decision.
Many will say justice was served. But for me, something even more important happened in this trial. It brought up two extremely important issues. What is a doctor’s responsibility to his patient? And it spotlighted just how big the issue of addiction is in America.
Addiction to prescription drugs is a serious problem in this country. These drugs are incredibly addictive and dangerously mood-altering. Prescription drugs are surpassing illicit drugs as the leading cause of overdose in the U.S. In some states, more people are dying from prescription drug overdoses than in car accidents.
What is the doctor’s role in this epidemic?
I think we have learned that a doctor’s first responsibility is to do no harm to his patient. And sometimes that means the doctor has to say no. He or she cannot allow the patient to determine treatment. It is the doctor’s responsibility to understand and explain the dangers associated with drugs, and it is their responsibility to serve their patient and their oath.
How can we encourage this? By educating doctors specifically on the dangers of these prescription drugs and how important it is to take into account a patient’s entire history when they come into their care.
This is one of the dominant issues of our time. America’s growing addiction to prescription drugs. We need to take this opportunity to educate ourselves. Maybe this way we can salvage something good from Michael Jackson’s tragic and untimely death.
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