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Today they vindicated Dr.Anna Pou,who had been accused of murdering nine patients in a New Orleans hospital,during the Katrina hurricane. I would consider her a hero,one of the many during, what was a catastrophic event.

It is easy to remember how we were all consumed with the details of the tragedy, as it unfolded right before our eyes, watching it on T.V. daily and then hearing personal stories of human pain and loss.How is it that the families of the hospital patients that lost their loved ones, did not understand how it impacted everyone . And especially, the hospital that was left to struggle on its own.

The hope was that a helicopters would come when the could,and often they waited on the roof for arrival of the helicopter that never came. They were advised that they were low on the list.

Because they did not have power and without air conditioning,they were caring for patients by flash lights,they gave sponge baths to cool them down, and used card board pieces to fan them,the heat was unbearable.
The staff of nurses and physicians were feeling sad and helpless.

Dr.Anna Pou tells her story well and I would encourage you to read it.It will open your eyes to the life and death decisions that changed every day.She said what was hardest for her was to realize,we live in the greatest country in the world and yet the sick could be abandoned like this.

The staff was working in the dark without power,of course this also meant they were unable to use equipment,such as suction.
In addition to accumulated commodes and waste and used supplies,the hospital began to reek of odor.Patients who were seriously ill died and the morgue was full. The staff and families were also getting sick and it became more chaotic.

There were additional people beside the patients and staff,many families also came to the hospital as the only refuge .They were up to about 2000 people to care for.

After the levees had broken they were surrounded by water. The plan was to helicopter each patient out.But it failed.The hospital staff as a group then decided how they could best manage the patients,now unsure when they be rescued. They used a reverse triage,the patients were anxious and moaning with discomfort.They were also aware they would have yet another day of hell.The decision was to give the patients some sedation.Everything was done in the best interest of the patients.

Finally all the patients were airlifted, as well as Dr. Pou,there was no one left in the hospital.

Dr Pou was working a full week in another hospital,still dealing with the bedlam and aftermath of Katrina.She had been up 48 hours and stopped to eat.There was a knock on the door. It was four agents from the attorney generals office."The whole way to jail I was asking God to help my family get through this"

Vindicated Katrina Doc Tells Her Story
Newsweek,August 24,2007
MSNBC.com

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