The hospital staff in New Orleans....?

Question

Below is the link to the story, but during a time of crisis, it appears that a doctor and some nurses made some choices that they may have to pay for.....
I am a nurse and I am torn in my reaction. Part of me understands why they may have felt compelled to do this, but another part of me just feels it is wrong.
What are your thoughts? Comments?


http://cbs2.com/local/local_story_198195236.html

OOPs! NOT that link...this one..

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/07/18/D8IUG5U00.html

Answer 1

I've been following that story, too. And as a nurse, I can totally understand their situation. I feel so sorry for them. Whatever happened, you know it was only done out of kindness. I believe there should be a hearing to evaluate the events and determine if there were any other options (can't imagine what they would have been, though). But I think it was unconscionable the way they were treated. These are NOT criminals, for crying out loud. To handcuff that doctor was beyond the pale. Foti is definitely grand-standing.

Answer 2

I am not a health care provider by anymeans. However, I do not see how they could of charged these individuals with murder in the second degree. It is not right. While killing someone isnt right either, with the circumstances I believe it was more humane to do what these nurses and doctors did. I konw that many might see it as "playing God" but I might have done the same in their situation. I know that if I was a sick elderly patient suffering in that kind of heat and pain, I probably would not want to live either. They did not know what kind of help was coming or if it would come at all. They need to have mercy on these three individuals. They didnt mean any harm and did what they felt was right in a crisis.

Answer 3

There will be more of these stories to come. Many babies and ICU patients died due to lack of electricity. The emergency generators ran out of gas. Flooded roads stopped fuel deliveries. A co-worker's daughter is a nurse in New Orleans who did the best she could considering there was no lights, air-conditioning, electricity, supplies, and workers. Many doctors and nurses could not make it to the hospitals. To make it worse, looters were stealing drugs from the pharmacies and taking want ever wasn't tied down. A lot of the Admin staff armed themselves to prevent looters from entering the wards. Not a good display of humanity during a crisis.

Answer 4

I am also a health care provider, I am not going to second guess these people, I am almost, but not completely certain that under the extreme conditions of Katrina there had to be some extenuating circumstances. I hope people don't rush to judgment until all of the evidence is in. I cannot imagine it being murder. We would be looking at three psychotic personalities in collusion.

Answer 5

I can understand why they did it & hope i never have to make a choice like that