Ref: The Deadly Choices at Memorial by Sheri Fink, August 30, 2009
Ms Fink writes a riveting account of the drama and high stakes decisions that a few courageous medical staff confronted during those grueling days after hurricane Katrina stroke New Orleans. One is left with an appreciation of the urgency to adopt policies and procedures (and to conduct practice drills) on how authority and life decision-making responsibilities ought to be discharged during emergency/disaster situations which undoubtedly will occur again. Comprehensive training is essential for those individuals who are officially expected to be in charge, and for those who may find themselves “deputized” in such unique and distressful situations.
The entire incident is exhibit “A” in the indictment against those responsible for failing to provide and coordinate at the highest administrative levels the delivery of emergency relief operations. Imagine the suffering of those patients who would have been left waiting for help for over two weeks had Dr. Pou not acted in the humanitarian way she did.
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