Jackson's Heart OK, Doc's Lawyer Says
The lawyer for the doctor who was the last to treat Michael Jackson before his death last Thursday said his client never detected a heart condition in the pop star.
Edward Chernoff, Dr. Conrad Murray's attorney, told CBS' The Early Show Monday that Jackson was "in relatively good health."
Chernoff added that Murray was unaware if Jackson was abusing prescription drugs, a claim that the singer's lawyer had made last week.
When asked, Chernoff said his client prescribed drugs for Jackson, though he declined to list what they were. Instead, Chernoff said Murray's prescriptions were "appropriate."
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Chernoff told The Associated Press that Murray was at the pop icon's rented mansion on Thursday afternoon when he discovered Jackson in bed and not breathing. The doctor immediately began administering CPR, Chernoff said.
"He just happened to find him in his bed, and he wasn't breathing," the lawyer said. "Mr. Jackson was still warm and had a pulse."
Jackson's family requested a private autopsy in part because of questions about Murray, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said Saturday. Murray also told the family an autopsy should be performed, Chernoff said.
Paramedics were called to the mansion while the doctor was performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), according to a recording of the emergency call.
Because Jackson was so frail, Murray "administered with his hand behind his back to provide the necessary support," Chernoff said. Some have speculated the doctor botched the CPR.
"He's a trained doctor," Chernoff said. "He knows how to administer CPR."
Medics spent three-quarters of an hour trying to revive Jackson. He was pronounced dead later at University of California Los Angeles Medical Center.