The doctor suspected of giving Michael Jackson a fatal sedative could come back to California and practice, lawyers for the state medical board told a judge in a bid to get his license suspended.
Dr. Conrad Murray, who faces trial on involuntary manslaughter charges in the 50-year-old superstar's death a year ago, is based in Houston and Las Vegas and not practicing medicine in California. But that's not enough for the medical board, which has a hearing on the matter Monday, according to The Associated Press.
"While the defendant asserts that he will not practice in California, there is no legal bar to him changing his mind and engaging in practice in this state," the board's filing states.
Noting that Murray is currently under a California prohibition from using anesthesia, the board urged the judge to go farther, saying, "it is not just his 'prescribing' practices that are in question, but his fundamental judgment and skill as a physician."
Murray's attorney Ed Chernoff said he will file a response later this week.
Murray's lawyers have said banning him from practicing medicine in California could end up getting him barred in Texas and Nevada, where he is licensed. In April, the Texas Medical Board restricted Murray from administering anesthetics.
Murray was Jackson's $150,000-per- month personal physician as the singer prepared for a marathon stand in London. Authorities say he gave Jackson fatal dose of a Propofol, an emergency room-grade anesthetic, to help him sleep.
