Los Angeles, Feb 4 (DPA) The family of Michael Jackson is pressing for murder charges to be brought against the doctor who administered the injection of hospital anaesthetic that caused the pop-star's death, their lawyer said Wednesday.

The family's Attorney Brian Oxman told CBS' Early Show that reports that prosecutors planned to charge Dr Conrad Murray with involuntary manslaughter were 'just a slap on the wrist, and a slap on the face.'

Oxman argued that Murray should be charged with second degree murder because he was 'reckless' in administering the drug propofol as a sleeping aid to the frail singer.

'Michael Jackson was someone who we knew was in danger of being brought to his knees, brought (to) his death, by the use of these medications,' Oxman said.

His comments followed a statement from Murray's attorneys that the controversial doctor was ready to surrender to authorities if charges were pressed.

'I don't have any specific information that leads me to believe he is going to be charged this week,' Murray's attorney Ed Chernoff told the Los Angeles Times. 'But if he is, we've made it clear he's available to turn himself in.'

Murray, 56, has acknowledged giving Jackson propofol after other medications failed to help him sleep. Shortly after receiving the drug Jackson suffered a massive cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead June 25, 2009.