So, You Say you're Against Mercy Killing
So, You Say you’re Against Mercy Killing….
Abstract
This paper examines three sources of information regarding the events at Memorial Hospital in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina and throughout the wait for evacuation. It explores the ethical dilemmas of those left to care for the sick. The main issue, mercy killing, was foisted upon some of the staff with the added stressors of very little sleep, food, relief staff, or aid from governmental agencies. The sources are used in a deliberate attempt to read between the lines of how perceptions and memories may have been affected over time as well as the self-preservation and protection sought from those in charge. Keywords: ethical dilemma, mercy killing
I wrestled with the issues involved in this story. I always prided myself as an absolutist. I have always felt mercy killing to be wrong unequivocally. I saw it as a way to dispose of the unwanted of society. I was always reminded of the infamous name whenever the term mercy killing would be uttered and that is the name most people associate with the term; Hitler. He used that excuse to exterminate 6 million innocent people. To hear the word made me physically ill. That’s why I wrestled with the ethical issues in this article to the degree in which I did. This was not an easy account to come to grips with. After reading the events that transpired I have come to a partial change of heart. In late August 2005 the staff at Memorial Hospital, owned by Tenet Hospitals in Houston, was braced to weather the storm. They had weathered hurricanes before and they thought they were braced for it. I don’t think anyone could be prepared for what was about to ensue. The rain and winds hurled their attacks, but the hospital stood strong. The people of the community that used the hospital as their fortress were safe and sound. All was relatively calm
Abstract
This paper examines three sources of information regarding the events at Memorial Hospital in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina and throughout the wait for evacuation. It explores the ethical dilemmas of those left to care for the sick. The main issue, mercy killing, was foisted upon some of the staff with the added stressors of very little sleep, food, relief staff, or aid from governmental agencies. The sources are used in a deliberate attempt to read between the lines of how perceptions and memories may have been affected over time as well as the self-preservation and protection sought from those in charge. Keywords: ethical dilemma, mercy killing
I wrestled with the issues involved in this story. I always prided myself as an absolutist. I have always felt mercy killing to be wrong unequivocally. I saw it as a way to dispose of the unwanted of society. I was always reminded of the infamous name whenever the term mercy killing would be uttered and that is the name most people associate with the term; Hitler. He used that excuse to exterminate 6 million innocent people. To hear the word made me physically ill. That’s why I wrestled with the ethical issues in this article to the degree in which I did. This was not an easy account to come to grips with. After reading the events that transpired I have come to a partial change of heart. In late August 2005 the staff at Memorial Hospital, owned by Tenet Hospitals in Houston, was braced to weather the storm. They had weathered hurricanes before and they thought they were braced for it. I don’t think anyone could be prepared for what was about to ensue. The rain and winds hurled their attacks, but the hospital stood strong. The people of the community that used the hospital as their fortress were safe and sound. All was relatively calm
References: Bailey, R. (2010). The Case of Dr. Anna Pou—Physician Liability in Emergency Situations. American Medical Association Journal of Ethics, 726-730. Crystal Franco, E. T. (2006). Systemic Collapse: Medical Care in the Aftermath of Katrina. UPMC Center for Health Security. Baltimore: UPMC Center for Health Security. Retrieved November 24, 2013, from UPMC Center for Health Security: http://www.upmchealthsecurity.org/website/resources/publications/2006/2006-06-15-systemiccollapsemedcareafterkatrina.html Fink, S. (2009, August 25). Magazine: New York Times. Retrieved November 24, 2013, from New York Times Web site: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/magazine/30doctors.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0