Chaos and Mercy: A Doctor and Nurses Charged with Patient Deaths after Hurricane Katrina

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a city hospital in New Orleans was plunged into chaos, with patients suffering in unbearable conditions. Temperatures inside the hospital exceeded 100 degrees, and generators failed, leaving some patients to be manually ventilated for days. Amidst this humanitarian crisis, allegations emerged of mercy killings, with a doctor and two nurses accused of administering lethal doses to patients deemed beyond salvation.

Key Takeaways:

• 34 patients died during and immediately after Hurricane Katrina at Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans.
• A doctor and two nurses were charged with second-degree murder in connection with patient deaths.
• The investigation centered on the seventh floor of Memorial Medical Center, where a long-term healthcare facility operated in dire conditions.
• Eyewitness accounts, including a chilling document reviewed by NPR, detail discussions of administering lethal doses to patients.
• The coroner sent tissue samples to determine if lethal doses of morphine were administered.
• Many patients were critically ill, leading to discussions about whether they could be moved or would suffer greatly if moved.
• The hospital was without power, backup generators, and air conditioning for days, exacerbating the situation.

Statistics:

• 34 patients died during the storm and immediately after at Memorial Medical Center.
• 24 of these deaths occurred on the LifeCare seventh floor of Memorial Medical Center.
• Temperatures inside the hospital exceeded 100 degrees.
• Generators at Memorial Medical Center failed, leaving patients without power or air conditioning.
• Patients were manually ventilated for hours, and in some cases, days.

Sources:

• NPR's Carrie Kahn reporting
• Court documents reviewed by NPR
• Eyewitness accounts
• Memorial Medical Center investigation
• Coroner's report