The Michael Jackson trial resumed today, with Dr. Steven Shafer, an authority on the drug propofol which ultimately killed the singer, testifying about the usage and effects of the powerful anaesthetic. Reuters reports that the doctor wanted to dispel the pervasive myths surrounding the drug, which have arisen as a result of its unfortunate association with Jackson's death.

Shafer revealed that propofol, when used properly, is an "outstanding drug." Proper usage is in a controlled setting, like an operating room, with the purpose of sedating patients before surgery. In Jackson's case, it was used as a sleep aid, which is not what it was designed for. The drug was often administered by his physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, who is on trial for manslaughter. From the sounds of it, Murray had no business giving this type of drug to his patient! Murray and his lawyers have been claiming that Jackson self-administered the final and fatal dose out of Murray's line of sight at the time of his passing, which seems highly unlikely.

Shafer revealed that propofol has an unearned bad rep and is now guilty by association thanks to its ties to Jackson's death. The doctor told jurors, "I am asked every day I'm in the operating room, I tell patients what I'm going to do and I am asked the question, 'Are you going to give me the drug that killed Michael Jackson?'"

Shafer hopes to clear up the drug's reputation and restore the public's faith in it; that is why he is testifying without being paid.

Murray has come under extreme fire for giving Jackson the drug at his house. He dosed the singer in the wrong setting and without the proper equipment to monitor the patient. Therefore, it was a cocktail of disaster.

More From PopCrush