Reports about possible mercy killings in a New Orleans hospital in the aftermath of Katrina have been circulating for some time. Given the explosive nature of the allegations involved, it has been a surprisingly low key story so far. A few weeks ago, it was even suggested that charges of doctors killing their patients, may be another urban myth spawned by Katrina. But there obviously is more to it than just wild allegations because the Lousiana Attorney General has opened an investigation. All deaths involved critically ill patients at Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans. Hospital personnel, along with patients, were confined within the hospital under very bleak conditions, with few prospects of evacuation in sight.
From time to time, we hear about "Angel of Death" killings by individual medical care givers who go on killing rampages motivated by a delusional sense of merciful mission. But the New Orleans case appears to be different – several seemingly rational individuals – doctors and nurses, may have been involved. I wonder what the investigation will reveal. More likely than not, if true, this bizarre event will prove once again the fragility of the human condition – under extreme stress caused by hopelessness, even sane people will sometimes do insane things.
Accidental Blogger 
5 responses to “Another Bizarre Hurricane Story”
Why would you assume that mercy killings, if they occurred, were “insane”? I confess, I have heard nothing about the alleged mercy killings until now, and I know nothing of your moral theory, but it seems that it would be fairly easy to tell a story about mercy killings in the path of Katrina wherein no one involved could rightly be considered “insane,” even if their actions are morally wrong. It seems like it would be a reasonable moral mistake, at worst. (Unless, of course, the doctors were euthanizing emergency room patients with broken arms, or something similarly outlandish.)
Minimally, if I’m ever in a hospital bed and on life support with a Cat. 5 hurricane on the way with no hope of evacuation, I hope there’s a nearby doctor or nurse willing to do me an “insane” favor.
LikeLike
The insanity I had in mind is one of a legal nature, not a moral one. Euthanasia is illegal in Louisiana. That a group of people would undertake this course of action, even in an utterly hopeless situation, with each other as witnesses to the “crime”, is the insanity and desperation I refer to in my post.
As for the morality (and sanity) of mercy killing under proper circumstances, such as you mention, you and I agree.
LikeLike
The situation seems truly tragic, the more I hear of the details.
LikeLike
imho, “insanity” is a poor choice of words; “desperation”, like you said in your comment, is better.
the lack of a brouhaha over the issue probably illustrates that there is more widespread support for euthanasia than some conservatives would like to believe — this is just an event in which people could relate to the “proper circumstances” more easily.
LikeLike
Welcome to the blog!
Some other readers too have objected to my use of the word “insanity”. I did not mean it in a pejorative way at all. More like losing your mind out of panic and hopelessness.
LikeLike