MJJC Exclusive Q&A with Dr. Steve Shafer - Question submission closed

[elusive moonwalker]

Wow just when u think he cant get any better he does. now i need to think of a question

[Vinter]

I would like to know , when there is overdose of Propofol, like it happened to Michael, in how long time you died, I heard few seconds, is it true? And we don't suffer? It's like we are sleeping so we don't feel nothing, no pain ?

Just wanted to share his answer to me (in my little correspondence with him) before anybody asks the same question:

In your opinion, was Michael suffering at his last minutes of life?
Definitely not. Propofol is a very pleasant drug. He was unconscious when he was dying from lack of oxygen. If he had been conscious, he would have been breathing. If he his airway was obstructed (i.e., his tongue fell to the back of his mouth), then his efforts to breathe was entirely a reflex, just our breathing when we are sleeping. He was not aware of it. It does not matter whether or not his eyes or mouth was open after he died.
- Dr.Steven Shafer

[Mirabella76]

Oh My GOD!!!! What an opportunity! I hope Walgren will be the next


First of all I would like to say the biggest THANK YOU for all you did during this case, for your work, your altruistic intent and generous decision to answer our questions.
1. Dr.Sheifer what do you think about Michael, have you ever listen to his music and if yes, what song is your favorite?
2. What do you think about Dr. White testimony and his behavior during the trial? Do you both still befriending?
3. What do you think was there a chance for Michael to be in good health and to continue normal usual life after so long respiratory arrest even if paramedics could reanimate him?
4. Is there a real dependency of using propofol and if yes what kind of dependency is it physical or psychological?
5. How long-term taking of deep sedation by propofol during weeks, months or maybe years could affect human health? Is it possible to take propofol during the long time and haven't any associated disease?


Maybe later i'll think again and add some questions

[Diplomate]

Just wanted to share his answer to me (in my little correspondence with him) before anybody asks the same question:

In your opinion, was Michael suffering at his last minutes of life?
Definitely not. Propofol is a very pleasant drug. He was unconscious when he was dying from lack of oxygen. If he had been conscious, he would have been breathing. If he his airway was obstructed (i.e., his tongue fell to the back of his mouth), then his efforts to breathe was entirely a reflex, just our breathing when we are sleeping. He was not aware of it. It does not matter whether or not his eyes or mouth was open after he died.
- Dr.Steven Shafer

Thanks for your answer.

[Bonnie Blue]

Thanks ivy for organising this, and also to dr shaffer, what a sweetheart he is!

Do you know what the long-term effects of using propofol would be. Murray has indicated that mj was using propofol for 6 weeks, apparently for sleeping 8 hours or so a night. Have you ever read about case studies of patients doing this or, as it was put forward in the trial, was mj an experiment?

[Diplomate]

When we are under Propofol, we are anesthetized, so it's not like when we sleep, I mean the sensation, so when the effects of the Propofol are finished and you are not anesthetized anymore, how do we feel?

[Vinter]

1. Dr.Sheifer what do you think about Michael, have you ever listen to his music and if yes, what song is your favorite?

Sorry, not addressed to me but that's what he wrote to me about this:

...I did not study Michael Jackson before the trial, but since the trial I have listened carefully to his songs, read his lyrics, and seen his taped performances. I understand how his message touched millions of lives. He was just as passionate about life, and about people, as he was about music... - Dr. Steven Shafer.

P.S. Just in order to not bother him to answer the question which there is the answer to. With L.O.V.E.

[ivy]

Thanks Vinter. I could still include those questions and let him re-answer to them as well

[Mirabella76]

Sorry, not addressed to me but that's what he wrote to me about this:

...I did not study Michael Jackson before the trial, but since the trial I have listened carefully to his songs, read his lyrics, and seen his taped performances. I understand how his message touched millions of lives. He was just as passionate about life, and about people, as he was about music... - Dr. Steven Shafer.

Awwww..... This man is absolutely adorable!!! I'm almost in love with him. I should ask him if he married

[Mirabella76]

Thanks Vinter. I could still include those questions and let him re-answer to them as well

Please re-ask him if you can. Maybe he would say something more

[ivy]

Please re-ask him if you can. Maybe he would say something more

I will see. If we got too many questions I'll omit them. If we got manageable number of questions I'll include them.

[Vinter]

I should ask him if he is married

Yes, he is

[marebear]

Sorry, not addressed to me but that's what he wrote to me about this:

...I did not study Michael Jackson before the trial, but since the trial I have listened carefully to his songs, read his lyrics, and seen his taped performances. I understand how his message touched millions of lives. He was just as passionate about life, and about people, as he was about music... - Dr. Steven Shafer.

P.S. Just in order to not bother him to answer the question which there is the answer to. With L.O.V.E.

That is nice. This is what I hope will happen to other people too.

I don't know what to ask.

But I think I would like to know where someone would give the idea to use propofol as a sleep aid? If it is only to be used for surgery then why would anyone give it someone to get some sleep?

What his thoughts on Murray as a doctor are?

[Vinter]

ivy, may I please share the last quotation from my correspondence with Dr.Shafer as it is relevant to this thread (I wanted but didn't know where to post it a bit earlier):

"...I am glad that my testimony has helped many Michael Jackson fans understand what happened on June 25th, 2009. It is important when dealing with a tragic loss to understand how it happened. Not knowing can be as painful as the loss itself. I am grateful for the opportunity to explain the circumstances of Michael Jackson’s death, and am humbled by the outpouring of appreciation..." - Dr. Steven Shafer

> "Not knowing can be as painful as the loss itself".
These are the golden words!

[marebear]

This might sound weird but I feel like God sent Dr.Shafer to help Michael in this trial. It was him and Dr. Steinberg(I think) who really helped us and the jury understand what happened.