Five Days At Memorial Chapter 6 Summary

Graci Kaiser Leadership (NR 4600.01) Professor Fagan April 7, 2024 In Five Days at Memorial, Chapter Six and Chapter Seven explained the evacuation from the hospital and the euthanasia of both animals and humans, and Chapter Eight described the legal aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. There were many decisions that had to be made by the healthcare management team, doctors, and nurses regarding patients and transportation out of the hospital. These staff members were faced with distressing circumstances which led to agonizing decisions that were made. These decisions were unethical and should not have been a thought in the staff's mind. Chaos began to arise in the hospital because they were in a dreadful situation with Hurricane Katrina and this
Chapter Six explained how Cook had been ordering prescriptions and injections to euthanize animals because they were not allowed on boats and helicopters. He also started euthanizing patients to get nurses off certain floors, and he described himself as the go-to man for difficult end-of-life decisions. He believed that quickening patients' deaths was a better alternative than abandoning them, but I believe that there were other alternatives than this method. Although there were other doctors who agreed with Cook and did the same practice, there were some who disagreed, including Doctor Richard Deichmann, Kathleen Fournier, and Bryant King. King's feelings were so strong about the situation that he contacted a friend and wanted to get out of the hospital. He mentioned contacting CNN, the National Guard, and whoever would listen because he thought these decisions were unethical, and I agree. During Chapter Seven, Pilots delivered oxygen, food supplies, and pharmaceuticals, so the pharmacy was well stocked. Evacuation was under way, and new information came out that staff members were allowed to leave by boat with their pets, so it was not necessary to euthanize them after