Medical board to discuss Dr Murray today

AZARD ALI

THE council of the Medical Board of TT will meet tonight to discuss the query of United States medical doctor Conrad Murray’s application to continue as a member of the board in order to practise medicine here.

Murray is out of the country, Newsday was told yesterday by the receptionist at a nursing home in Chaguanas where he is based. An email sent to him about the issue was never responded to. Murray is the cardiologist who, after the death of pop singer Michael Jackson, was jailed in 2010 for four years for involuntary manslaughter. He was one of Jackson’s personal physicians and he served two years in jail before being released. His Texas, California and Nevada medical licenses were suspended.

Murray, who was born in Grenada and grew up in Trinidad since age four, worked and lived in the US where he practised in the field of cardiology. He registered with the local medical board in 2004 upon his return here.

A source at the board told Newsday yesterday that Murray will know his fate tonight when the council meets. It was confirmed to Newsday that on the list of the meeting’s agenda will be the issue of Murray’s standing. The Medical Association of TT had referred his application for renewal with the board and the council placed the matter on the agenda for tonight’s discussion.

The board’s official said the council will be guided by chapter 29:50 of the Medical Act which mandates every doctor to pay an annual retention fee and that the secretary shall notify by post, fees that have not been paid. When an annual retention fee is paid, the member or holder of a licence shall receive a certificate of good standing. Newsday was also told that the council will also consider the revocation of Murray’s Texas, California and Nevada licenses to practise.