Michael Jackson Was Still Given Propofol After He Stopped Breathing

Dr. Steven Shafer testified Thursday that Michael Jackson's doctor gave the singer much more propofol than the doctor admitted to detectives, and that the drug continued to flow into Jackson's veins at the moment he died.

Shafer informed jurors that Conrad Murray, the doctor accused of administering a fatal dose of propofol to Jackson in 2009, must have given Jackson a full 1,000 mg bottle of propofol, rather than the 25 mg amount Murray told investigators. Shafer said that the amount of the drug killed Jackson, "but [he] died with the infusion running."

Shafer called out Murray for leaving the room after giving the singer propofol. "Had Conrad Murray been with Michael Jackson during this period of time," Shafer testified, "he would have seen the slowed breathing and the compromise in the flow of air into Michael Jackson's lungs, and he could have easily turned off the propofol infusion."

Dr. Shafer challenged the defense theory that Jackson gave himself the fatal dose of propofol, saying that the drug must be injected for its effects to kick in. He cited a study in which individuals drank propofol orally and experienced no symptoms.

Shafer's testimony has not been good for the defense. Yesterday, he called Dr. Murray's decision not to call 911 right away after discovering Jackson's body "completely and utterly inexcusable." He also claimed that propofol is an "outstanding drug," but only if used properly, which it was not in this case.