CNN Newsnight story on the investigation into the New Orleans Memorial Medical Center "mercy killing" allegations following Hurricane Katrina.
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Summary of Memorial Medical Center Investigation
Details a CNN investigative report into allegations of mercy killings at New Orleans' Memorial Medical Center during the desperate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. As the hospital faced sweltering 110-degree heat, no power, and dwindling supplies, some medical staff reportedly discussed euthanizing patients they believed would not survive the ordeal. While nurse manager Fran Butler and physician Dr. Bryant King both recall open discussions about putting patients "out of their misery," neither witnessed an actual act of euthanasia. However, Dr. King alleges he saw a colleague holding a handful of syringes and telling patients she was giving them something to make them "feel better," an event that prompted him to leave the hospital to avoid involvement.
The Louisiana Attorney General is currently investigating the 45 deaths discovered at the facility, with potential charges including manslaughter. Coroner Frank Minyard is performing autopsies and drug screens to determine if lethal doses of medication were administered. Tenet Healthcare, which owns the hospital, maintains that staff acted heroically under "battle conditions" and notes that many of the deceased were already critically ill or had died before the hurricane's peak. One of the doctors involved defended their actions to CNN, stating they were abandoned by the government and made the best decisions possible under the circumstances, though she declined to comment specifically on the euthanasia allegations.
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