Sheri finks five days at memorial the new york times. Hurricane katrina blew in to new orleans and the city is still recovering, and so this book is an important part our american history. Fink provides a landmark investigation of patient deaths at a new orleans hospital ravaged by hurricane katrina and a suspenseful portrayal of the quest for truth and justice. Five days at memorial book central arkansas library. In the tradition of the best narrative nonfiction, fink draws together dozens of stories and perspectives. The book consists of nine chapters and is divided into two parts. The book, which takes place in august 2005, describes the struggle of staff and patients to survive when trapped in new orleans memorial medical center during the aftermath of hurricane katrina. Essay paper essay like anna pous actions at memorial hospital, new orleans, in the days following hurricane katrina, my thoughts about her actions are complex and varied. This is a very powerful book about a medical and social disaster in new orleans following the flooding and then social misery that hurricane katrina and the monstrously myopic failures of regional, state and federal safeguards of flood control, planning and budgeting combined to impose on the populace of new orleans in the summer of 2005.
This book is a devastating account of what happened at a hospital in new orleans after hurricane katrina hit in 2005. During katrina, memorial doctors chose who lived, who died. Life and death in a stormravaged hospital is a 20 nonfiction book by the american journalist sheri fink. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading code blue. Strained by katrina, a hospital faced deadly choices the. It is also an invaluable eye opener for those who have loved ones with chronic illness, who could face the same fate as the poor souls in lifecare or memorial hospital. After katrina struck and the floodwaters rose, the power failed, and the heat. Three weeks after the devastating hurricane katrina in 2005, the city authorities said that charity hospital would not reopen again. There were rumors that doctors and nurses had euthanized patients, and an investigation.
Memorial hospital spent five days in the wake of hurricane katrina without power, flooded and without preparation in place for a largescale disaster. When this was published, i wanted to learn the story. Desoto hospital in mansfield, louisiana, some 300 miles away, agreed to accept the patients. By the time katrina began lashing new orleans in the early hours of monday, aug. Five days of ambiguous morality at katrinahit hospital npr. Eight years ago, hurricane katrina hit new orleans. Her first book, war hospital, was about medics under siege in bosniaherzegovina. Charity hospital was a public hospital in new orleans. Pulitzer prize winner sheri finks landmark investigation of patient deaths at a new orleans hospital ravaged by hurricane katrinaand her suspenseful portrayal of the quest for truth and justice.
The moral dilemmas of doctors during disaster the new yorker. Five days at memorial by sheri fink the boston globe. When hurricane katrina battered the gulf coast and devastated new orleans in 2005, many wondered what would become of the fabled city and its frenchandafrican fused culture. Custom utilitarianism and medical care in the aftermath of hurricane katrina. When hurricane katrina devastated new orleans in 2005, the citys hospitals faced awful dilemmas. Allegations of euthanasia would later make headlines across the country and be investigated by state and local officials. When katrina made landfall, the immediate impact of. In all, about 2,000 people were in the hospital that sunday night, many of them simply seeking refuge.
Sheri finks new book, five days at memorial details the horrors visited upon patients and staff at new orleans hospitals after katrina. A katrina physicians memoir kindle edition by richard e. Sheri fink spent years reporting on this story and her writing is strong, filled with grim details and dreadful scenes, but it needed to be told. And this is the subject of sheri finks provocative new book, five days. Anna maria pou was arrested following the deaths of four patients at memorial hospital after hurricane katrina hit. Thats a tall order, and its reflected in the book s length and complexity. Guide by maureen wolverton, liberal studies department prologue 1 reflect on your own memories of hurricane katrina. In five days at memorial, sheri fink describes an awful example set by doctors and nurses during hurricane katrina.
Five days at memorial, by sheri fink the new york times. A katrina physicians memoir finally tells the inside story of the. The book details the aftermath of hurricane katrina at memorial medical center in new orleans in august 2005, and is an expansion of a pulitzer prizewinning article written by fink and published in the new york times magazine in 2009. The first part describes the events and experiences of the approximately 600 staff and more than 200 patients who, along with their loved ones, were stranded at memorial hospital in new orleans, louisiana during and immediately after hurricane katrina in 2005. Hurricane katrina produced damaging winds up to 140 mph. Five days at memorial is sheri finks gripping look at hospital care during an. I highly recommend this book to hospital nurses and their administrators everywhere. A katrina physicians memoir finally tells the inside story of the hellish nightmare those who struggled to survive the ordeal were cast into. By wednesday, the hospital was surrounded by floodwaters, without sanitation, running out of food, experiencing indoor temperatures up to 110 f 43 c, and had.
Why wasnt the hospital evacuated before katrina hit new orleans. Sheri finks account of events at a new orleans hospital in the wake of. Five days at memorial, by sheri fink sheri finks five days at memorial, describes the horrific conditions at a new orleans hospital shortly after hurricane katrina. A doctor and two nurses were arrested overnight in connection with the deaths of patients at a new orleans hospital in the days following hurricane katrina, the louisiana attorney generals. A doctor has admitted that he gave orders for a lethal dose of medication to be administered to a patient under his care during the hurricane katrina disaster in 2005 a decision that he says he does not regret having made.
Hurricane katrina and the deadly choices at memorial medical center. She is a correspondent at the new york times, where her and her colleagues stories on the west africa ebola crisis were recognized with the 2015 pulitzer prize. At a recent national conference for hospital disaster planners, pou. The louisiana state university system owns the building, and their headquarters have indicated that they. A new book tells the harrowing story of memorial medical center, where some physicians took the lives of their patients during the aftermath of hurricane katrina. In the aftermath of the katrina crisis, dr pou told a louisiana television station some patients were under do not resuscitate orders made prior to the hurricane. The 558 page book, five days at memorial, tells the complete story of what happened at memorial medical centre in new orleans during the hurricane katrina disaster that began on august 28, 2005. Fink, whose previous book, war hospital, was based on her reporting in the. Facing floodwaters and corporate mismanagement, some staffers euthanized sick patients. The book details the aftermath of hurricane katrina at memorial medical. Five days at memorial by sheri fink teachers guide.
Fink explores the alleged euthanasia of patients after evacuation orders were handed down for waterlogged memorial hospital five days after katrina hit. But the hospital was a singlestory building, and katrina seemed particularly threatening. Finks book explores what went wrong after hurricane katrina, and asks us to. Memorial medical center and hurricane katrina wikipedia. Books for all ages new members save 20% off jigsaw.
Where is the line between appropriate comfort care and mercy killing. Sheri fink is the author of the new york times bestselling book, five days at memorial. In sheri finks five days at memorial, the pulitzer prizewinning journalist attempts to get to the bottom of what happened at a new orleans hospital in the days after hurricane katrina. Doctor, nurses held in katrina deaths us news katrina. On saturday afternoon, the ceo called several hospitals. She is a correspondent at the new york times, where her and her colleagues stories on the west africa ebola crisis were recognized with the 2015 pulitzer prize for. Pou, an associate professor in the department of otorhinolaryngology at the lsu health sciences center, was at memorial medical center from before katrina s landfall on monday, august 29 until thursday, september 1. Fink has done a masterful reporting job, and five days at memorial is often engrossing, particularly those. Life and death in a stormravaged hospital crown, 20 about choices made in the aftermath of hurricane katrina.
Pou headed to memorial medical center, where she was on call. Very well written, not a typical journalistauthored book. Share how you learned about certain events and any people you knew who were touched by the disaster. Charity hospital and the nearby university hospital were both teaching hospitals. Doctor admits euthanizing patient during hurricane katrina doctor admits euthanizing patient during hurricane katrina news by.
Home nurselife hurricane katrina and the deadly choices at memorial medical center. In five days at memorial she is on home ground, in new orleans, during and immediately after hurricane katrina in. Anna pou, a physician accused of euthanizing four critically ill. A reading list telling the stories of an american tragedy. And in fiscal year 2005, before katrina, cms installed the 25 percent rule, a requirement that ltchs take in a maximum of 25 percent of their patients from any one acutecare hospital in. Hurricane katrina and the deadly choices at memorial. Jury sides with doctor in katrina mercy killings a new orleans grand jury did not indict dr. Five days at memorial is an important and difficult read. Five days at memorial life and death in a stormravaged hospital book. But it culminates in a remarkably honest, frank, and bloo. Five days at memorial book san antonio public library. After katrina struck and the floodwaters rose, the power failed, and the heat climbed, exhausted caregivers. Doctors, nurses, and staff worked around the clock, caring for those inside and trying to evacuate the facility, also known as baptist hospital. The story of hurricane katrina and memorial hospital in the early morning hours of august 29, 2005 the gulf coast braced for disaster.
Five days of ambiguous morality at katrinahit hospital. While it shines a light on our government and corporate failures, it also highlights the resiliency of the human spirit and will to survive. The story of hurricane katrina and memorial hospital. Five days at memorial by sheri fink guide by maureen. Utilitarianism and medical care in the aftermath of. Life and death in a stormravaged hospital ala notable books for adults. Richard deichmann, the hospitals chief of medicine and one of the leaders of the evacuation, gives his compelling account of the rapidly deteriorating state of affairs at the hospital. Pou and the hurricane implications for patient care. Doctor admits euthanizing patient during hurricane katrina.
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