Former physician for the late Michael Jackson Dr Conrad Murray wants to help the Government provide cheaper medical care for children with cardiac problems. This was revealed by Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan in an interview on Thursday. Khan said Murray presented a verbal presentation of the proposal during a meeting on Wednesday. Murray came to Trinidad to play mas on Carnival Monday and Tuesday.
The minister said the qualified doctor was not seeking to practise here but to use his “connections” with doctors at hospitals in the United States, via a foundation, to provide medical attention “at a low or no cost to the Government of T&T.”
Khan said Murray, who served time for the death of Jackson, was expected to present a detailed proposal shortly, which he would seek to take to the Cabinet at the appropriate time. Khan said he had no problem with such a qualified doctor trying to assist children in getting specialised healthcare at significantly reduced costs. He said the average cost of such a service was more than US$200,000. Khan said citizens had nothing to be fearful of.
Many people expressed concern over news of Murray’s intention to assist children of this country in the wake of his recent incarceration. He said Murray’s incarceration was like someone being incarcerated in this country or any other country. Khan said: “If the people of T&T don’t want me to use his assistance, then they will have to find another way to deal with the (sick) children.”
The minister said he was “battling to find a paediatric cardiologist in the system and if you have a child with cardiac problems, you’ll be glad for anyone who has that expertise to help you out.” He said a parent with a child with that medical problem “will take help from any expert you could find.” But Khan said Murray has served his time and was now seeking to do good for the people of this country.
“All he wants to do is to utilise his expertise as a facilitator because he does have the contacts,” Khan said. The minister said many children in the country can benefit from such an arrangement. He insisted that he “can’t find anything wrong with that and if the people don’t want me to consider Murray’s proposal I will listen to them but the children will remain with their cardiac disease.”