was there euthanasia in new orleans hospital?

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 4:16 am

click on pic for story, December 22, 2005

Katrina euthanasia allegations 'credible'

Covered bodies at Memorial Medical Center.

More than one medical professional is under scrutiny as a possible person of interest in an investigation into allegations that hospital workers resorted to euthanasia in the chaotic days after Hurricane Katrina shattered New Orleans, a source familiar with the investigation has told CNN. The investigation is looking into the possibility that medical personnel at the hospital were afraid of anarchy in the city, feared they could be the next targets of violence and were simply growing tired of horrible conditions inside the hospital, CNN has learned.

FULL STORY | NEWS UPDATE

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 5:27 am

That is horrible, what a dilema for the hospital, but I do not believe in euthenasia.....................they should be a full investigation.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 6:20 am

I read the story. It's full of what-ifs about DNR patients and speculation about anything beyond. It's a non-story on a slow news day and CNN ought to be ashamed.

Those doctors were heroes under incredible pressures they had not been trained for. Had they abandoned their patients, that would have been different. They didn't.

There is an investigation under way, according to the story. The reporter and CNN should have waited until there was something real to report.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 7:46 am

Thank you for that clarification, AC. It's like you don't know all the facts yet, but tell the story anyway. (bad news writing)

The hurricane was bad enough, and we know the crooks shot and assaulted hospitals and staff members.

LilacDragon · Post by **LilacDragon** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 8:03 am

If memory serves, Katrina hit on a Monday and the military didn't start pulling people out until Thursday. Before then, rescue efforts were sporadic and disorganized.

The news stories at the time made a point to tell those who where not there that anyone who could have safely been evacuated from hospitals were and most of those that were left were elderly patients who were too fragile to be moved at all.

I can't imagine any of my elderly relatives suffering a painful death, if death was unavoidable, if there was a doctor there to ease the way.

SOJOURNER · Post by **SOJOURNER** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 8:14 am

This was on our news quite awhile ago. Only it had to do with old age homes. Seems no help was coming to take them out of the area, the waters were rising and they had everyone on the highest floor they had. The news story said it was humanitarian -- peaceful death or lay there helpless with the water rising up to drown them. Turns out the story was not true.

BUT, if you were in this situation and had to choose between someone drowning or helping someone die peacefully, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO DO?