This coming week, August 31--September 4, the Conversation Class will focus on the death of Michael Jackson and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)'s pending criminal case against Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray (see photo, left).On Tuesday, September 1, class members will make short group presentations about topics related to Jackson's death: What happened on the night and morning before Jackson died? (Group 1); What drugs did Dr. Conrad gave to Jackson and what their dangers and effects? (Group 2); What are you supposed to do someone stops breathing? (Group 3); and, What other drugs was Jackson addicted to and what doctors gave him these drugs? (Group 4).
(See class handout from Thursday's class here, which includes links to recommended stories to help in your research. Click here for tips on making a good group presentation.)
I will explain the difference between "murder" and "manslaughter" and how these terms are used by police departments and courts of law in the state of California, where Jackson was killed.
The media is speculating that Dr. Murray will be charged with the crime of manslaughter, an event that will probably make the news this week. But members of the Jackson family, including Michael's sister LaToya, have said that Murray and other doctors should be charged with murder. The Jackson family's lawyer Brian Oxman told reporters in July that Michael Jackson was afraid of being murdered. As reported in the Boston Globe (July 1):
The pop superstar was reportedly terrified of being murdered for his money
or the music publishing rights he owned, which included his own work and
over 200 songs from the Beatles back catalogue. The rights are estimated to
be worth over £600 million.
On Thursday, September 3, we will have a class debate: Is Dr. Conrad Murray guilty of killing Michael Jackson or are other people guilty as well? If Dr. Murray is guilty, what crime should he be charged with, manslaughter or murder?
Note: If you missed class on Thursday, you are in Group 4 and need to present on that topic. Email me to coordinate with the other members of your group.
Update (Sat., Aug. 29): Today would have been Michael Jackson's 51st birthday. Instead of celebrating with his family, he's lying in a freezer, dead as a doornail, while his mothers and siblings prepare for his funeral on September 3. Very sad.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of interesting discussion on the Web about who is guilty of killing Michael Jackson. Was Jackson's death Dr. Murray's fault or was he just doing his job? Is Michael Jackson to blame? Were the people who got MJ addicted to drugs guilty as well?
Medical doctors and lawyers are talking a lot about this upcoming case. Check out this interesting blog written by a doctor who works in an emergency room: White Coat's Call Room (http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2009/08/michael-jacksons-doctor-to-be-charged-with-manslaughter/ )
The writer of the blog asks, "What will happen to the other doctors that prescribed propofol to Michael Jackson in the months and years before his death? Do they get off scot free even if they are the ones who addicted MJ to propofol?"
("Scot free" is a phrase that means "without any punishment.")
The comments that people have added to that blog page are very interesting. They come from medical doctors and nurses who deal with cases like this every day.
Today, Saturday, 29 August 2009, the newspaper El Comercio (section "LUCES") published the chronology of michael Jackson's death. This information can be useful to any group.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Magali, for the info.
ReplyDeleteRemember, class, that if you read the El Comercio verision of events, you need to translate the key concepts into English to be able to discuss the timeline with the class.
I'm looking forward to hear about each group's information in order to create an interesting debate on Thursday. I believe that we will have a lot of arguments and disagreements due to the fact that there are a several sources that display different facts about the same topic.
ReplyDeleteOn sunday, on the tv program "Reporte Semanal" in Frecuencia Latina, was showed an interesting reportage too and talks about the drugs and the controversy about Dr. Murray's fault. It could be useful for any group.
ReplyDeleteThis is an article about Propofol that can help us to have useful information about that drug in the debate.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.terra.com/salud/articulo/html/sal26233.htm
I found it in Terra, so I think we can trust in the information that is there.
It will be an interesting debate, because Michael´s death caused a terrible impact in the world and we don´t know who really is the guilty person.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading since yesterday different articles from CNN.
ReplyDeleteI'm confused, I don't know what to believe.. if Dr. Murray is guilty or not.
I gues I'll have to make up my mind..
This is not related with the debate, but Michael Jackson is finally going to be buried tomorrow (September 3rd):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.elcomercio.com.pe/noticia/336611/michael-jackson-enterrado-manana-diez-semanas-su-muerte
It says that the burial is going to be a private ceremony, but the Forest Lawn Cementery will open on Friday, so fans and other people will be able to visit Michael Jackson (well, visit the cementery he's in, because the place he's going to be buried is going to be closed)
Update: We had a good class debate about Michael Jackson's homicide case. I know it wasn't easy "being in the hot seat," but taking the Pro and Con positions really sharpened the debate and made it so much more focused than a relaxed class discussion. I am glad that some of you had fun playing lawyer.
ReplyDeleteLast Tuesday, Andrea shared the lyrics from "Morphine," by Michael Jackson. She promised to send the lyrics as a Word document, and here is the link:
http://docs.google.com/View?id=d3pczxn_21chb5rdcz
It's eerie to read these lyrics and to realize that MJ the songwriter is talking about MJ the addict. Was the song a cry for help? Or a defiant boast (un alardeo desafiante)?