Physician Who Accused Jackson Of 'Doctor Shopping' Takes The Stand
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A physician who accused Michael Jackson of "doctor shopping" was called to the stand Thursday by attorneys representing the late singer's family.
Dr. Allan Metzger, whose video testimony was heard by jurors Wednesday in the wrongful death trial Katherine Jackson filed against AEG Live, again addressed his concerns with the court.
"Did you believe he engaged in doctor shopping?" Jackson family attorney Deborah Chang asked her witness.
"When he was out of our presence because he traveled so much he would use a hotel doctor. He had to shop for a doctor for himself and for his children," Dr. Metzger said.
"Often he would call me long distance to get advice, but sometimes he had to shop around."
Attorneys for AEG, who rested their defense yesterday, argue Jackson maintained secrecy surrounding his medical care, including the treatment Dr. Conrad Murray was providing inside Jackson's bedroom when the pop star died from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol in 2009.
Dr. Metzger, who treated the singer for several years, testified as to Michael Jackson's condition dating back nearly three decades. He said the late singer was suffering from several painful medical issues while convincing music giants to work with him on the 1985 song We Are The World, written by the pop star to raise money for humanitarian aid in Africa.
Metzger also watched from the witness stand with tears in his eyes as more recent videos were shown, saying the clips were difficult to watch. Attorneys for AEG vigorously objected to the relevance of the videos, but the judge allowed the jury to watch them.
On cross-examination by attorneys for AEG, Metzger testified he is being paid by Jackson family attorneys $1,000 an hour for his work on the wrongful death case.
Michael Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, is accusing the concert promoting giant of negligently hiring Murray to care for the singer as he prepared for his ill-fated This Is It comeback concert series in London and wants the firm to be held liable for her son's death.
Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011 in Jackson's death.
AEG says it cannot be held responsible for what was going on behind the bedroom doors between Jackson and Murray when the fatal dose of propofol was administered.
Tomorrow it's expected the jury will receive its instructions.
Closing arguments are expected to begin next week.
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