Katrina death inquiry

last updated 8 January 2015

New Orleans

Louisiana officials are investigating whether critically ill patients were left to die or were even euthanized at a New Orleans hospital in the chaos after Hurricane Katrina, USA Today reported this week. A doctor, Bryant King, told CNN that he heard staff members talking about euthanizing some critically ill patients, after the hospital lost power and conditions went downhill quickly. King said he became suspicious when he saw a doctor with a handful of syringes walking the halls of New Orleans’ Memorial Medical Center, where 45 people died. The case is part of a state health department review of 215 deaths at nursing homes and hospitals after the Aug. 29 hurricane.