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Documents: Doctor distracted by own love life in Jackson case

LOS ANGELES -- Michael Jackson's doctor was so distracted by his own complicated love life that he failed to pay proper attention to Jackson's treatment in the hours before the pop star died, according to court documents filed Thursday.

Prosecutors said they can show Dr. Conrad Murray was talking on his cellphone and sending text messages to three different women during that time.

One conversation with a cocktail waitress he met at a Houston restaurant lasted 11 minutes and apparently ended when Murray realized Jackson wasn't breathing, prosecutors said. Murray also was accused of receiving calls and texting with two other women he had met at Las Vegas strip clubs.

Murray, a Houston cardiologist, has an office in Las Vegas.

"He was receiving personal phone calls during the hours when he was supposed to be completely focused on the care of Mr. Jackson," prosecutors said in the documents.

Prosecutors are trying to persuade a judge to allow the testimony during Murray's upcoming involuntary manslaughter trial.

Murray also violated doctor-patient confidentiality by trying to impress the women with the fact that he was treating Jackson, deputy district attorneys David Walgren and Deborah Brazil said in their motion.

Murray also was accused of disclosing confidential information to the women but withholding it from authorities at the time of Jackson's death on June 25, 2009.

"He had a pattern of revealing confidential information when it suited him, but he was unwilling to reveal patient information at the most critical time," the motion said.

Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter. He is accused of gross negligence for administering the anesthetic propofol and other sedatives to Jackson before he died.

The trial is likely to focus on his competence based partially on his reactions after Jackson stopped breathing.

Testimony at a preliminary hearing earlier this year showed that Murray never told paramedics or hospital personnel that he had given Jackson propofol or other sedatives.

Defense attorneys have moved to bar evidence involving "sexually scandalous information," including Murray's patronage of strip clubs.

"This evidence has no rational bearing on any issue in this matter and is presented merely to harass and discredit Dr. Murray," a defense motion stated.

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