Michael Jackson doctor helps revive passenger in distress on US Airways flight to Phoenix

Michael Jackson doctor helps passenger in distress

PHOENIX — The doctor accused of administering a powerful anesthetic that killed pop star Michael Jackson helped stabilize a young woman who fell unconscious on a US Airways jet on Saturday.

Dr. Conrad Murray found the woman with a very weak pulse aboard Flight 641 from Houston, hooked her up to an IV line he got from the plane’s medical bag and monitored her while the jet was diverted to Albuquerque, N.M., his spokeswoman said.

“We’re not surprised,” said Miranda Sevcik, from the legal team representing Murray in his involuntary manslaughter case. “He’s a good doctor, we’ve always said he was a good doctor, and that’s what good doctors do is save people.”

The young woman, who Murray said was 23 and traveling with an 11-month-old baby, was met at the gate by paramedics and taken to a hospital, Sevcik said. The plane then continued on to Phoenix. Murray was on his way to Los Angeles to confer with his lawyers at the time.

US Airways confirmed that a doctor on the flight helped stabilize a patient who had a medical emergency. Spokesman Todd Lehmacher said it was against company policy to identify the passenger or the doctor on board who helped stabilize her.

Murray’s involvement was first reported by celebrity website TMZ.com.

Jackson, 50, was about to launch a world comeback tour when he died last June after being found unresponsive with Murray at his bedside in a Beverly Hills mansion. Murray had been hired at $150,000 a month to be Jackson’s personal physician.

Murray told police he administered the anesthetic propofol to Jackson as a treatment for insomnia.

Conrad, 57, was charged in February with a felony charge of involuntary manslaughter. He has pleaded not guilty, and remains free on $75,000 bail pending trial.

The cardiologist has offices in Houston and Las Vegas. His license to practice medicine in California has been restricted by a judge and he is fighting to maintain his license in Las Vegas, where back child support could result in its suspension.