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Doctor Testifies Jackson Didn't Want To End Up Like Elvis Presley

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Jurors heard testimony Friday at the Michael Jackson wrongful death trial against AEG that the King of Pop did not "want to end up like my father-in-law."

Doctor Scott David Saunders was asked who Jackson was referring to and he replied, "Elvis Presley."

The jury heard more medical testimony Friday that suggested Jackson was becoming increasingly leery of drugs.

They heard a 49-minute taped deposition by Saunders, a Buellton physician, who testified that he treated Jackson while the pop star lived at Neverland Ranch in the early 2000s.

Dr. Saunders treated Jackson for a respiratory infection and later for pain. He said Jackson specifically asked to be given a drug that was non-addictive, according to CBS2's Randy Paige.

"He wanted to get off pain medications," Dr. Sanders said, "he told me, 'I don't want to end up like my father-in-law.'"

Dr. Saunders also testified that during his treatment of Jackson, the two became friends. He was asked what they would talk about.

"Everything," replied the doctor, "He was rather lonely and said he didn't have anyone that he could trust."

Saunders also said they talked briefly about Jackson's childhood. He quoted Jackson as saying growing up was "very difficult" and "he was never allowed to be a child."

The doctor also testified that he decreased Jackson's dosage of Demerol because he wanted to get off the addictive painkiller.

During the deposition, Dr. Saunders was shown a 2001 medical record that said Jackson was given a Demerol injection from another doctor. Saunders said Jackson didn't tell him another doctor had already given him a shot.

"That is a bothersome thing," Dr. Saunders testified.

AEG lawyers argued, if Jackson didn't even tell his own doctors about the drugs in his system how were they supposed to know what he was doing and how could they be held responsible for his death?

Attorneys for the Jackson family maintain that AEG knew about Jackson's addiction to painkillers and should have better monitored his medical care in the weeks leading up to his death.

 

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