| ■ Doctor, 2 Nurses Arrested in New Orleans Hospital Deaths | 06.07.20 |
| A doctor and two nurses have been arrested in connection with patient deaths at Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit the city. Immediately after the Aug. 29, 2005, hurricane, rising floodwaters caused Memorial to lose electricity and temperatures inside the hospital reached over 100 degrees. At least 34 patients died waiting for help, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday. The Louisiana attorney general's office said the three were arrested late Monday and booked on suspicion of second-degree murder. Samples were taken from dozens of patients who died in hospitals and nursing homes in New Orleans, with the intention to test them for potentially lethal doses of drugs such as morphine. It wasn't immediately clear if the three were suspected of mercy killings, the AP said. Last fall, more than 70 people were subpoenaed in an investigation into rumors that medical personnel at Memorial had euthanized patients who were in pain as they waited to be rescued. |