The doctor convicted of killing Michael Jackson has defended his use of a surgical anaesthetic to put the pop star to sleep, claiming the singer was using the substance long before they met.
Conrad Murray, who was last Monday convicted of involuntary manslaughter and faces up to four years in prison, made the comments in a television interview to be shown on US channel NBC on Thursday and Friday.
Murray did not testify at his own six-week trial and his television appearance has angered the executors of Jackson's estate, who say Murray is getting a platform to smear Jackson's reputation without fear of cross-examination.
John Branca and John McClain have demanded that screening of the interview – which promotes a documentary made with Murray's co-operation, Michael Jackson and the Doctor: A Fatal Friendship – be cancelled.
In released excerpts from the programme, Murray said: "I think propofol is not recommended to be given in the home setting, but it is not contra-indicated."
During the interview, conducted by Savannah Guthrie, the Houston cardiologist said it was not necessary for him to monitor Jackson because he had only administered a small amount of the drug.
"That's a very sad reason because it was inconsequential 25mg and the effect's gone. Means nothing."
When asked why he failed to mention the propofol to the paramedics who attended the scene at Jackson's mansion, he replied: "Because it had no effect. It was not an issue."
The coroner subsequently found that Jackson, 50, died in June 2009 of "acute propofol intoxication" after a huge dose of the drug complicated by other sedatives.
Doctors who did testify at Murray's trial said it was wrong to leave a patient alone after giving them an anaesthetic.
Murray told Guthrie: "I was not supposed to be monitoring him at that time because there was no need for monitoring. When I looked at a man who was all night deprived of sleep, who was desperate for sleep and finally is getting some sleep, am I gonna sit over him, sit around him, tug on his feet, do anything unusual to wake him up? No."
Murray is being held in Los Angeles county jail and is due to be sentenced later this month.