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The Memorial Killings: What Katrina Doctors Did

Report details how staff responded to agonizing situation

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 28, 2009 10:09 AM CDT

(Newser) – In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the staff at one New Orleans hospital faced a torturous dilemma: For critically ill patients who would have to be carried down as many as 8 flights of stairs and back up to the roof of a garage, evacuation seemed impossible. With rumors of rioters preparing to attack and police ordering everyone who could go into boats, the remaining staff decided euthanasia was more humane than abandonment, writes Sheri Fink for ProPublica, in a piece reconstructing the sequence of events and the decision-making.

Evidence indicates that Memorial Medical Center staff, led by Dr. Anna Pou, injected at least 17 of the sickest, least mobile patients with fatal doses of morphine and midazolam. Pou has not admitted purposely administering fatal doses, but other doctors are frank with Fink about their decision to end DNR and other hopeless patients' lives rather than abandon them. From documents, Fink reconstructs the stories of many patients—from frail elderly women to a 380-pound man nowhere near death—and how they met their ends.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (2)]

Dr. Anna Pou pauses to compose herself at a news conference regarding a grand jury's decision not to indict her on murder charges, July 24, 2007, in New Orleans. (AP Photo)

Dr. Anna Pou looks on at her home New Orleans in a 2006 file photo. (AP Photo)

A palm tree lies on Canal Street during the heavy rain and wind from Hurricane Katrina, Aug. 29, 2005, in New Orleans. (Getty Images)

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To me, it was a no-brainer, and to this day I don’t feel bad about what I did. I gave her medicine so I could get rid of her faster, get the nurses off the floor. There’s no question I hastened her demise.
- Dr. Ewing Cook

We were abandoned by the government, and clearly nobody was going to take care of these people in their dying moments. I did what I would have wanted done to me if the roles were reversed.
- Dr. John Thiele

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 15 comments

NxBigmouthery

Aug 28, 2009 10:57 AM CDT

He said, giving an opinion.

Silverbow7

Aug 28, 2009 10:35 AM CDT

And don't forget the elder Bush's reaction to the hurricane. It seems the Bush family think a lot differently about the welfare of the average American than we might hope from our 'leaders'.

MarkFL

Aug 28, 2009 8:34 AM CDT

This is like one of those ridiculous dilemmas that you always get in ethics courses or discussions like whether to sacrifice a murderer who is going to get run over by a train in order to save 3 others. The only difference is that this is real. This is just incredible. A tough choice. I say Bush serves time for this one.

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ProPublica (Source Grid »)

Science • US

Hurricane Katrina • investigation • New Orleans • euthanasia • Dr. Anna Pou • riots • doctors • medical emergency • ProPublica

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The Memorial Killings: What Katrina Doctors Did