Tessa Quinn
Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, has a long and complex history, but it is most known for its role during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The hospital was severely damaged by flooding, and the evacuation of its patients made national headlines. While the exact number of deaths at Charity Hospital during Katrina is unclear, sources indicate that only a handful of patients died during the evacuation process, which was marked by high temperatures, dwindling supplies, and reports of sniper fire. The hospital also faced challenges such as a flooded basement morgue and loss of power. Despite these difficulties, the death toll at Charity Hospital was lower compared to other hospitals in the city, showcasing the resilience and dedication of its staff.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of deaths during Hurricane Katrina | 8 |
| Cause of death | Mostly ICU patients |
| Location of deaths | Parking deck |
| Number of deaths during the yellow fever epidemic of 1858 | 1,382 |
| San Carlos Hospital fire | 3 |
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What You'll Learn
Three patients died in the San Carlos Hospital fire of 1809
Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, was established in 1736 by a French sailor and shipbuilder, Jean Louis, who died in New Orleans the previous year. In his will, he expressed his wish to finance a hospital for the indigent in the colony of New Orleans from his estate. The hospital was originally named the Hospital of Saint John or L'Hôpital des Pauvres de la Charité (The Charity Hospital for the Poor).
The San Carlos Hospital, which was part of Charity Hospital, stood for twenty-four years until it was engulfed in flames on September 22, 1809. Three patients died in the fire, and those rescued were temporarily moved to the Cabildo. This incident left the hospital displaced, operating in different temporary locations until a new hospital building could be constructed.
The new hospital, built after the fire, was described as "vast and commodious... capable of caring for 120 patients." However, despite the larger capacity, conditions in the new hospital were subpar. Many complained that the hospital lacked adequate equipment and attendants, and that it merely served to confine the sick and dying.
The need for a larger and more adequate hospital became dire as the city's population exploded due to an influx of immigrants. Many of these new arrivals came to Charity Hospital to receive treatment, and the demand for indigent medical services exceeded the hospital's capacity. This led to the construction of a sixth hospital on Tulane Avenue in 1939, which became the second-largest hospital in the United States with 2,680 beds.
Charity Hospital has a long history of serving the community and providing medical care to those in need. Over the years, it has treated hundreds of thousands of patients who could not afford treatment elsewhere, and it was once considered the safety net of New Orleans.
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1,382 people died of yellow fever in 1858
Yellow fever is a viral disease that is typically short-lived. Symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains, and headaches. In cities, it is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is found in tropical and subtropical regions. The virus is believed to have originated in Africa and was likely brought to North and South America during the slave trade.
In 1858, 1,382 people died of yellow fever within the walls of Charity Hospital. This was part of a larger epidemic in New Orleans that year, which saw 8,000 or more deaths. Nonstop annual outbreaks occurred in the city from 1825 to 1900, with the worst outbreaks taking place in 1833 and 1853. Overall, more than 40,000 people in New Orleans died of yellow fever between 1817 and 1905.
Yellow fever had a significant impact on the social structure of New Orleans. It was nicknamed "The Stranger's Disease" because those who had lived in the city for a long time were likely to be immune, while immigrants had higher death rates. This created a class structure divided between those who were immune and those who were vulnerable.
The disease also disrupted existing power dynamics in the city. While the elites used the social effects of the disease to their advantage, the high mortality rate among leaders in nearby Holly Springs, Mississippi, left the remaining citizens to lead the town through the horrors of the epidemic.
Yellow fever outbreaks have also occurred in other parts of the United States, including Philadelphia in 1793, New York City in 1795, Boston in 1798, and Baltimore in 1800. The outbreak in Philadelphia was particularly severe, with approximately 5,000 deaths, and it led to the establishment of a fever hospital.
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Eight patients died during Hurricane Katrina
Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, has a long history dating back to 1736 when it was founded by French sailor and shipbuilder Jean Louis, who wanted to establish a hospital for the indigent in the colony of New Orleans. Over the years, the hospital has weathered many storms, including hurricanes, fires, the Civil War, financial woes, infectious diseases, and more.
In 2005, Charity Hospital made national headlines when it sustained severe flood damage during Hurricane Katrina. The evacuation of patients from the flooded hospital was a challenging and harrowing experience, with patients having to be ferried through high floodwaters and then picked up by helicopter from the roof of Tulane Hospital. Temperatures rose above 100 degrees, supplies dwindled, and toilets backed up. Staff and patients alike endured unimaginable conditions, with reports of hand-pumped ventilators being used and personnel sharing IV fluids when food ran out.
Despite these extreme circumstances, only eight patients died during Hurricane Katrina at Charity Hospital, with most of the deceased being ICU patients. This relatively low number is a testament to the resilience and dedication of the hospital staff, who did their utmost to care for their patients. They continued to provide care as best they could, siphoning gas from cars to fuel portable generators to power ventilators and cardiac monitors. Additionally, they avoided categorizing any patients as too ill to rescue, ensuring that the sickest were evacuated first.
The evacuation was not without its challenges and setbacks, including reports of sniper fire. The smell inside the hospital was described as unbearable, with the stench causing gagging and vomiting among those present. The floodwaters trapped everyone inside for days, and the basement morgue also flooded, requiring staff to retrieve bodies and stack them in stairwells. It took a week to evacuate the last patient, and the hospital never reopened after the hurricane.
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23 bodies with elevated drug levels were found post-Katrina
Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, was established in 1736 by a French sailor and shipbuilder, Jean Louis, who wanted to provide healthcare for the poor. It was the second oldest continuously operated public hospital in the United States, offering the best healthcare available to anyone who needed it.
In 2005, Charity Hospital sustained severe flood damage during Hurricane Katrina. The evacuation of patients from the flooded hospital was challenging and made national headlines. Staff had to deal with a lack of essential supplies, rising temperatures, and no power. They hand-pumped oxygen for patients and fed each other IV fluids after food ran out. Despite these difficulties, only eight patients died during the evacuation, mostly ICU patients.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, 23 bodies with elevated drug levels were found at the hospital. Forensic consultants examined the bodies and determined that 20 of the deaths should be considered homicides. Prosecutors arrested one doctor, Anna Pou, and two nurses, Cheri Landry and Lori Budo, on four homicide charges. However, a grand jury decided not to indict the medical professionals, who had stayed with patients for days in the stricken hospital, and they were met with public sympathy.
The investigation into the deaths at Charity Hospital was complicated by political considerations and the unique circumstances of the hurricane's aftermath. The hospital's future was uncertain after the severe flooding, and it never reopened.
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Three patients died at Memorial Hospital during Katrina
Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, was founded in 1736 by a French sailor and shipbuilder named Jean Louis. It was originally named the Hospital of Saint John or L'Hôpital des Pauvres de la Charité (The Charity Hospital for the Poor). The hospital quickly outgrew its original facility, and a new one was built at the edge of the colony on Basin Street in 1743. Over the years, Charity Hospital expanded further and continued to serve the people of New Orleans, particularly during the yellow fever epidemic of 1858 when it admitted 2,727 patients.
In 2005, when Hurricane Katrina hit, Charity Hospital once again played a crucial role in providing shelter and medical care to those affected by the disaster. However, the hospital itself was not spared from the devastation. The flooding caused severe damage, and the basement morgue was inundated, sending bodies floating down the hallways. The staff worked tirelessly to evacuate the patients, with some even being paddled down the flooded streets to a nearby parking deck for helicopter rescue. Unfortunately, several patients died while waiting for rescue, and the evacuation was challenging, with reports of halting due to sniper fire. Despite these challenges, only eight patients died during the evacuation, which made national headlines.
In the aftermath of Katrina, Charity Hospital faced an uncertain future. It had to be closed down, and a 'replacement' hospital was built in a different location, making it less accessible to the indigent population it originally served. The story of Charity Hospital during Katrina was depicted in various media forms, including the 2013 film "Hours" and Spike Lee's documentary "If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise."
During the hurricane, Memorial Hospital, like Charity Hospital, was also severely impacted. It lost power and running water, and temperatures inside soared above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The flooding isolated the hospital, trapping patients and staff inside. Tragically, three patients died at Memorial Hospital during Katrina, and their deaths became the subject of controversy and investigation.
In the days following the hurricane, mortuary workers recovered 45 bodies from Memorial Hospital, a significantly higher number compared to other hospitals of similar size. Toxicology tests revealed that 23 of these individuals tested positive for morphine, midazolam, or a combination of both. Investigators believed that some of the deaths might have been homicides, and there were allegations that medical staff had hastened the deaths of some patients through euthanasia. Dr. Anna Pou and nurses Lori Budo and Cheri Landry were arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of four patients. However, the charges against the nurses were later dropped, and a New Orleans grand jury declined to indict Dr. Pou.
The events at Memorial Hospital during Katrina raised questions about medical ethics and the standards of care during crises. Dr. Pou has since advocated for changing these standards, arguing that informed consent is impossible during disasters. The investigation and its aftermath highlighted the difficult decisions and ethical dilemmas faced by medical professionals when disaster strikes.
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Frequently asked questions
1,382 people died of the disease out of 2,727 patients admitted.
Only eight patients died, mostly ICU patients.
Yes, during the San Carlos Hospital fire in 1809, three patients died.
Yes, in Sheri Fink's book "Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital", she writes about 20 deaths that should be considered homicides.
