USA: Doctor charged with murder of four Hurricane Katrina victims

A doctor and two nurses are charged with murder in the deaths of four patients who were stranded in the chaos that descended on New Orleans almost a year ago. It happened during the nightmarish aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, while hundreds of patients, doctors and nurses were trapped in a sweltering, flooded Memorial Medical Centre. Thirty four patients died, many because of the harsh conditions. After a year long investigation, Louisiana investigators now say that at least four patients were murdered. "This is not euthanasia, this is plain and simple homicide," said Louisiana Attorney General Charles Foti. The suspects are charged with injecting the patients with a deadly mixture of Morphine and the sedative Versed. The criminal investigation began just days after the Hospital was evacuated after rumours surfaced that doctors had allegedly discussed euthanising gravely ill patients. Authorities reject the notion that the deaths were mercy killings, saying the four patients in question would have survived. Although investigators haven't released the names of the patients, Angela McMannis is convinced her mother was among those killed. Meanwhile, lawyers for the accused doctor Anna Pou, call charges that she euthanized patients both untrue and unfair. "They are victims of the storms, not victims of homicide," said Attorney Rick Simmons. Still, there are many unanswered questions about what really happened inside Memorial Hospital.

ITN Source | July 19, 2006

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