Tessa Quinn
New Orleans Memorial Hospital, now known as Ochsner Baptist Medical Center, was severely impacted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The hospital was flooded, leaving patients and staff stranded without electricity, sanitation, or running water. In the aftermath of the hurricane, the hospital was closed and sold, and the new owners, Ochsner Health System, renovated the facility and changed its name. Today, the hospital is open and operates under its new name, with around 600 physicians and specialists providing healthcare services to the community.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Memorial Medical Center |
| Location | 2700 Napoleon Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana |
| History | Founded in 1926 by the Southern Baptist Convention as Southern Baptist Hospital. Renamed Memorial Medical Center in 1996. |
| Hurricane Katrina | The hospital was severely impacted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, suffering damage and flooding. It was closed after the surviving patients and staff were evacuated. |
| Post-Hurricane Katrina | The hospital was shut down and listed for sale in June 2006. It was sold to Ochsner Health System and renamed Ochsner Baptist Medical Center. |
| Current Status | The hospital is currently open under the new ownership of Ochsner Health System. |
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What You'll Learn
Memorial Medical Center was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina
Memorial Medical Center was severely impacted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The hospital, situated in a low-lying area of New Orleans, was flooded, and its emergency power systems failed, leaving it without electricity, sanitation, or running water. With indoor temperatures soaring above 100 °F (38 °C), conditions inside the hospital became unbearable, and deadly.
The hurricane hit on Monday, August 29, and by Wednesday, the hospital was surrounded by floodwaters. More than 200 patients and 600 staff members were trapped inside. The levees failed, and the rising water advanced towards the hospital. Senior administrators quickly realized the danger and advised the hospital's CEO, L. René Goux, to close the facility. However, with the city's other hospitals also overwhelmed, there was nowhere to relocate the patients.
The loss of power was particularly devastating for the patients of LifeCare Hospitals of New Orleans, which leased the seventh floor of Memorial Medical Center. LifeCare provided long-term acute care for severely ill patients, and seven of their patients were on ventilators. The loss of electricity put these patients at extreme risk.
The situation at Memorial Medical Center became so dire that staff members allegedly discussed euthanizing patients. Dr. Anna Pou, who was at the hospital from before the hurricane's landfall until Thursday, September 1, was accused of administering lethal doses of medication to several patients. While some of these patients were deathly ill, others were not, causing significant controversy. Pou was never prosecuted, and the case files were sealed. However, the allegations sparked a broader discussion about the need for disaster training and the challenges of making life-and-death decisions during emergencies.
In the aftermath of the hurricane, 45 bodies were recovered from the hospital, with toxicology tests revealing that 23 tested positive for morphine and/or the sedative midazolam. A class-action lawsuit was filed against Tenet Healthcare, the owners of Memorial Medical Center, alleging failures in their evacuation policy and the improper location of generators, which contributed to the power loss. Tenet Healthcare settled the case, paying out $25 million to those trapped at the hospital during the hurricane.
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Dr. Anna Pou's controversial actions during the hurricane
Hurricane Katrina marooned Dr. Anna Pou and the rest of the Memorial Medical Center staff in Uptown New Orleans in August 2005. The storm knocked out the hospital's power, running water, and sanitation, and sent the temperatures inside soaring above 100°F. The hospital's backup generators survived the storm, but the following morning, floodwaters from the sewers began to creep up, threatening to reach the hospital's emergency power transfer switches.
The physicians working at the hospital got together and established an evacuation plan to be implemented if the hospital's backup generators failed before rescue workers reached them. However, it became clear that some of the LifeCare patients could not be evacuated due to a lack of machinery to stabilize them and adequate transportation to move them to evacuation sites. After more than 72 hours, Dr. Pou, along with other physicians, decided to sedate some of the LifeCare and category 3 patients with injections of morphine and midazolam. Dr. Pou stated that her intention was to "help the patients that were having pain and sedate the patients who were anxious" because she knew they would be there for at least another day.
Dr. Pou's actions during the hurricane sparked controversy and investigations into hospital and nursing home deaths across New Orleans. A LifeCare lawyer alerted the attorney general to nine alleged cases of euthanasia at Memorial, and a coroner was hired to determine the patients' cause of death through autopsies. Abnormal levels of morphine, midazolam, and/or lorazepam were detected in several bodies, and forensic experts concluded that the administration of these drugs constituted homicide in many of the deaths. Dr. Pou was arrested and charged with one count of second-degree murder and nine counts of conspiracy to commit second-degree murder.
However, the charges against Dr. Pou were later expunged, and the State of Louisiana agreed to pay her legal fees. The case against Dr. Pou highlighted the lack of organized evacuation plans for hospitals during Hurricane Katrina and the difficult decisions healthcare providers had to make in the face of unimaginable challenges. In the years following the hurricane, Dr. Pou helped write laws to offer immunity to healthcare providers and protect them against civil lawsuits during emergencies.
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The building's history and current state
Memorial Medical Center, formerly known as Southern Baptist Hospital, is a hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana. The hospital was founded in 1926 by the Southern Baptist Convention and was once the second oldest and second largest free hospital in the history of the United States, operating continuously for 300 years.
In 1996, the hospital was renamed Memorial Medical Center, and in 2005, it was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina. The levees failed, causing the hospital to flood, and it was left without electricity or other utilities after the emergency generators failed. Over two thousand people, including patients, their families, doctors, nurses, and other staff, were stranded in the hospital for five days without proper care, electricity, or supplies. The lack of sanitation created a putrid smell, and the indoor temperatures rose to as high as 110 °F (43 °C).
During this time, Dr. Anna Pou and other staff continued to care for the patients. However, there were allegations that Pou and other medical professionals performed mercy killings of critically ill patients. While some believed that Pou's actions helped relieve the suffering of those who were already dying, others accused her of administering lethal doses of medication to patients who were not deathly ill. Forty-five bodies were recovered from the hospital, and investigators believed that up to two dozen of the deaths may have been homicides. Pou was arrested in 2006, but a grand jury declined to indict her, and the charges were later expunged.
After the hurricane, the hospital was closed, and Tenet Healthcare Corporation, the owner of the hospital, listed it for sale in June 2006. The building was purchased by Ochsner Health System, which renamed it Ochsner Baptist Medical Center. Under the new ownership, the hospital has been renovated, and it is currently open, with around 600 physicians and specialists working there.
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The centre's role in the Apple TV+ series 'Five Days at Memorial'
The Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans was severely impacted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The levees failed, causing the hospital to be flooded, and the power and sanitation to fail. The indoor temperatures rose to 110 °F (43 °C). In the aftermath of the hurricane, 45 bodies were found at the centre, 34 of whom died under the care of Dr. Anna Pou, who administered lethal doses of drugs to deathly ill patients. The centre's seventh floor was leased to LifeCare Hospitals of New Orleans, which provided long-term acute care for severely ill patients. Many of these patients were especially affected by the loss of electric power, and seven were on ventilators.
The Apple TV+ series Five Days at Memorial is based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Sheri Fink, and details the real events at the Memorial Medical Centre in New Orleans that occurred in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The series portrays the failings and choices made by staff and the healthcare institution, as they were forced to make profound, heart-wrenching decisions. The series seeks to highlight the ethical and moral dilemmas faced by healthcare workers in crisis situations.
The series depicts the difficulties at the New Orleans hospital after Hurricane Katrina, and the impact of the storm on the hospital and its patients. The series also explores the controversial subject of euthanasia, and the role of Dr. Anna Pou in particular, who is portrayed by Vera Farmiga. The series premiered on Apple TV+ on 12 August 2022, with the first three episodes released together, and the remaining five episodes released weekly.
Five Days at Memorial brings to light the tragic events of August 2005, when the Memorial Medical Centre in New Orleans was overwhelmed with patients and victims seeking shelter after Hurricane Katrina. The series highlights the difficult choices that medical staff were forced to make, and the impact of the storm on the hospital and the city of New Orleans. The series has received positive reviews, with an 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
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The hospital's sale and renaming to Ochsner Baptist Medical Center
New Orleans Memorial Hospital, now known as Ochsner Baptist Medical Center, was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The levees failed, and the hospital was left without electricity. The bottom floor of the hospital building was flooded, and there was no running water, leading to unsanitary conditions. Over 200 patients were stranded in the hospital for five days, and 45 bodies were eventually recovered from the centre.
In the aftermath of the hurricane, the hospital was closed, and Tenet, the owner, listed the building for sale in June 2006. Ochsner Health System and two other Tenet Hospitals in the Greater New Orleans area purchased the hospital. Ochsner renamed the hospital Ochsner Baptist Medical Center in 2006, bringing back a version of its original name.
Ochsner Baptist Medical Center is currently open under its new ownership and has been renovated, including a $40 million Women's Pavilion opened in 2013. The hospital has around 600 physicians and specialists working there.
The hospital has a long history in New Orleans, founded in 1926 by the Southern Baptist Convention as the Southern Baptist Hospital. It was an independent non-profit entity by 1969 and merged with Mercy Hospital in 1990. The hospital was the official healthcare provider of the New Orleans Saints football team and has been located on Napoleon Avenue in Uptown New Orleans for almost a century.
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Frequently asked questions
No, it is not. The hospital was severely impacted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and was closed after the surviving patients and staff were evacuated.
The Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina. The levees failed, causing the bottom floor of the hospital to flood. The hospital was left without electricity, sanitation, running water, or supplies. Over two thousand people, including patients, their families, doctors, and nurses, were stranded in the hospital.
Many patients were evacuated by airboat and helicopter. However, there were difficulties in reaching some patients, and 45 bodies were recovered from the hospital after the hurricane.
Yes, there were several investigations and controversies. There were allegations that Dr. Anna Pou and other staff members administered lethal doses of medication to patients. While some believed this was done to end the suffering of those who were critically ill, others charged it as mercy killing or euthanasia. There were also reports of misconduct and lawsuits from family members of deceased patients.
The hospital was shut down and listed for sale by Tenet in June 2006. It was purchased by Ochsner Health System, who renamed it Ochsner Baptist Medical Center. The new owners renovated the hospital and it is currently open and operational.
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