The involuntary manslaughter trial of Conrad Murray, MD, who has gained notoriety as the late pop singer Michael Jackson's personal physician, has returned propofol to news headlines. But coverage of the trial has been misrepresenting the nature of the sedative, say some media consumers.

In a recent news analysis, the Los Angeles Times responded to readers' complaints about repeated references to a "dangerous" anesthetic.

While prosecutors are attempting to link Jackson's 2009 death to an overdose of the drug at the hands of Dr. Murray, the readers argue that, in qualified hands, propofol is safe and extremely effective.

A copy editor at the Times has conceded the point, and "more recent articles have characterized propofol as 'powerful' or 'potent,'" says the article.

David Bernard