Barb's Book Reviews: Review of "Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital" by Sheri Fink

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Review of "Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital" by Sheri Fink

Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans

Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans did not have the resources to adequately care for patients following the flooding and power loss caused by Hurricane Katrina. In addition, evacuations were slow and difficult and people feared potential violence from looters and desperate citizens.

Memorial Medical Center was surrounded by water after Hurricane Katrina

A nurse fans patients awaiting evacuation in the Memorial Hospital car park after Hurricane Katrina

Some patients were evacuated from Memorial Hospital by boat

After a few days, the air conditioning failed and temperatures soared, toilet facilities were inadequate and the building reeked, halls and stairways were dark, and the staff was sleep-deprived and exhausted. In short, conditions were unbearable.

Conditions inside Memorial Hospital became unbearable

In this book Sheri Fink describes the difficult decisions of several healthcare professionals to over-medicate (euthanize) a number of patients who they believed would not make it out in time. Afterwards, state authorities initiated a murder investigation with plans to prosecute Dr. Anna Pou, and two nurses - Sheri Landry and Lori Budo - who allegedly administered the fatal injections.

Nurse Sheri Landry

Nurse Lori Budo

There's plenty of blame to go around for the calamity at Memorial, including the hospital's inadequate preparation for disaster, poor government planning and response, chaos and violence in the streets, and the foibles of human nature.

The families of the deceased were angry and wanted justice but many people were outraged at the charges leveled against the women and accused Charles Foti, the Attorney General of Louisiana, of attempting to further his own career at the expense of the healthcare professionals.

Charles Foti, Attorney General of Louisiana

Sheri Fink does a masterful job of describing the situation at Memorial during the crisis and the legal maneuverings of all parties - prosecution and defense - afterwards. It's hard to say I enjoyed the book since the subject matter was so depressing and horrific - but it was a compelling read. Highly recommended.

Author Sheri Fink

Rating: 5 stars

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Barb's Book Reviews

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Review of "Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital" by Sheri Fink

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