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Michael Jackson trial: Singer 'could not be saved', says ER doctor
Published Tuesday, Oct 4 2011, 02:48 BST | By Kate Goodacre | 1 comment
The doctor who declared Michael Jackson dead at hospital has told a Los Angeles court that the entertainer's life could not have been saved.
Dr Richelle Cooper, testifying at the manslaughter trial of Jackson's personal physician Dr Conrad Murray, told the court that she believes the singer had "died long before" his arrival at UCLA Medical Centre on June 25, 2009.
She also told the court on Friday that Murray had not informed her he had given Jackson propofol before he stopped breathing, adding in today's testimony: "It is unlikely with that information that I would have been able to do something different that would have changed the outcome."
> Michael Jackson trial: Conrad Murray remarks 'didn't add up', says medic
> Michael Jackson trial: Conrad Murray "nervous and frantic", says chef
Cooper revealed that she had recommended that paramedics declare the singer dead as early as 12.57pm on the day that he died, when medical personnel were still working on him at his home.
"I have never given a time of death in the field and then [had] that patient brought to me," she recalled, explaining that she allowed Dr Murray to "assume control and bring [Jackson] to the emergency room" as he was a physician in the field with "potentially conflicting information".
A second doctor, Thao Nguyen, said in her testimony that medics decided to place an aortic balloon pump in Jackson's heart in an attempt to revive him "to show our good faith... even though we suspected that it was futile".
Nguyen also said that Murray "absolutely [did] not" mention propofol to her in their conversations.
The trial continues, and is expected to last for another four weeks. Jackson's personal assistant is reportedly due to testify on Wednesday.
> Michael Jackson trial: Jury hears 'frantic' Conrad Murray phone call
> Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray's trial begins with 'haunting' audio
Dr Richelle Cooper, testifying at the manslaughter trial of Jackson's personal physician Dr Conrad Murray, told the court that she believes the singer had "died long before" his arrival at UCLA Medical Centre on June 25, 2009.
She also told the court on Friday that Murray had not informed her he had given Jackson propofol before he stopped breathing, adding in today's testimony: "It is unlikely with that information that I would have been able to do something different that would have changed the outcome."
> Michael Jackson trial: Conrad Murray remarks 'didn't add up', says medic
> Michael Jackson trial: Conrad Murray "nervous and frantic", says chef
Cooper revealed that she had recommended that paramedics declare the singer dead as early as 12.57pm on the day that he died, when medical personnel were still working on him at his home.
"I have never given a time of death in the field and then [had] that patient brought to me," she recalled, explaining that she allowed Dr Murray to "assume control and bring [Jackson] to the emergency room" as he was a physician in the field with "potentially conflicting information".
A second doctor, Thao Nguyen, said in her testimony that medics decided to place an aortic balloon pump in Jackson's heart in an attempt to revive him "to show our good faith... even though we suspected that it was futile".
Nguyen also said that Murray "absolutely [did] not" mention propofol to her in their conversations.
The trial continues, and is expected to last for another four weeks. Jackson's personal assistant is reportedly due to testify on Wednesday.
> Michael Jackson trial: Jury hears 'frantic' Conrad Murray phone call
> Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray's trial begins with 'haunting' audio
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