Michael Jackson's doctor seeing patients again despite investigation

The doctor at the center of the Michael Jackson death investigation is going back to work in Houston.

Dr. Conrad Murray's attorney told the Associated Press that Jackson's personal doctor has began seeing patients again at his private-practice office, adding that Murray needs to earn a living as the investigation into the pop star's death continues.

"He has not been able to earn a living since the death of Michael Jackson," Edward Chernoff told AP. "His legal fees are enormous and his debts have mounted to the point where it is unclear whether he will be able to keep his house or support his family."

Police are investigating Murray in connection with Jackson's death in June. Murray has denied any wrongdoing, and no criminal charges have been filed in the case.

Murray told Los Angeles Police Department detectives that he had been treating Jackson for insomnia for about six weeks. He had been giving Jackson 50 milligrams of the powerful drug propofol every night using an intravenous line, according to court records.

But Murray told detectives that he feared Jackson was forming an addiction and began trying to wean the pop star off the drugs. He said he lowered the dosage to 25 milligrams and mixed it with two other sedatives, lorazepam and midazolam, according to affidavits. On June 23, two days before Jackson's death, he administered those two medications and withheld the propofol, he told detectives.

On the morning Jackson died, Murray tried to induce sleep without using propofol, according to the affidavit. He said he gave Jackson Valium at 1:30 a.m. When that didn't work, he said, he injected lorazepam intravenously at 2 a.m. At 3 a.m., when Jackson was still awake, Murray said, he administered midazolam.

Over the next few hours, Murray said he gave Jackson various drugs, the affidavit said. Then at 10:40 a.m., Murray administered 25 milligrams of propofol after Jackson repeatedly demanded the drug, according to the court records.

-- Shelby Grad