Mercy Killing?
“US investigators have charged a doctor and two nurses with murder in the mercy killing of four patients in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, officials said.”
“While I’m aware of the horrendous conditions that existed after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans and left so many stranded without food, water, electricity and the basic necessities, I believe there is no excuse for intentionally killing another living human being,” — Louisiana Attorney General Charles Foti
My mother is an ER nurse and former paramedic so she has seen a lot of trauma. She is also a midwife so she has seen a lot of new life as well. I’m interested in getting her opinion on this whole matter, but I will give mine first.
The idea of a doctor purposely killing their patient is controversial any way you slice it, but I firmly believe that there are times when a doctor can and should ease the suffering. It is what they are supposed to do. Basic humanity demands it.
I’m not a religious person, but one of the main arguments against it is that it is up to God to determine life and death. But my counter argument to that, other than religion is a crutch in the first place, is that “it’s okay to put a dog or cat out of it’s misery, but not a human?” I would think it would be the other way around. We can ease the pain and suffering of an animal but not a person? Why is the HUMANE thing to do not reserved for HUMANS? It is absurd.
Now picture this scenario. You’re a doctor. A hurricane strikes the city. You’ve chosen to stay in the hospital and assist with patients. The city floods. The hospital loses power. The temperature rises to more than 100 degrees in the hospital. There’s no running water and sanitation is completely out the window. You’re working in the dark because there’s no lights. You’re stuck in the hospital with no help. Gunshots are heard outside the hospital. Patients are dying left and right. Food runs out. It’s been 4 days. Still no help. The patients are suffering. The heat is almost unbearable. Finally an evacuation is about to happen but some patients are too sick to move. If you leave them they will surely die.
As a doctor, it is your duty to relieve their suffering. When all other options are eliminated, it is okay to help them to a peaceful ending. The charges should not be brought upon the doctors and nurses who only did what they thought was the basic humanitarian thing to do, the charges should be brought upon the upper hospital staff who didn’t evacuate the hospital immediately when it was clear how terrible the storm was going to be. Also, charges should be brought upon the state government for not providing the resources needed to save the citizens of Louisiana.
“The state of Lousiana abandoned the hospitals, doctors, the nurses and these patients, They’re victims of the storm, not victims of homicide.” — Richard Simmons, lawyer for Doctor Pou
There were 45 bodies recovered from that hospital when they finally got around to cleaning up the mess. More than 200 sick and elderly patients died in their beds during and after the storm.
I didn’t know Richard Simmons was a lawyer too…