New Orleans
Second-degree murder charges were filed this week against a doctor and two nurses, following a yearlong investigation into whether some patients stranded in Memorial Medical Center after Hurricane Katrina were euthanized. Louisiana Attorney General Charles Foti announced arrest warrants against Dr. Anna Pou and nurses Lori Budo and Cheri Landry, in connection with the deaths of four elderly patients. Lab tests of the patients’ tissue samples showed fatal levels of morphine and other drugs that were not part of their treatments, authorities said. Several days after the storm, at least 34 patients were found dead in the hospital, which was flooded and without electricity. Some have speculated that overwhelmed medical personnel decided to put some patients out of their misery. Foti said additional charges may be filed soon.
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