Criminal probe eyed in nursing home deaths

[sabra]

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/13/katrina.impact/

Criminal probe eyed in nursing home deaths
Thirty-four perished in floodwaters at facility

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) -- The failure to properly evacuate a New Orleans-area nursing home where 34 residents died when floodwaters from Hurricane Katrina surged into the building may become the subject of a criminal investigation, authorities say.

"We are moving forward very fast now and within the next 24 to 48 hours should determine if charges will be filed," Louisiana Attorney General Charles Foti said Monday.

At the center of the probe is St. Rita's Nursing Home in St. Bernard Parish and why its owners didn't evacuate the facility ahead of Katrina.

Bob Johannessen, a spokesman for Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, called the actions by St. Rita's administrators "shocking" and the "worst example of negligence."

"This shocks the conscience," he told CNN. "This is the most egregious example of failure to do what is right at the right time. What were the decision processes that were made that would cause somebody to say, 'I'm not gonna take my patients.'"

[texpatriot2004]

1. It's the right thing to do, respect the dead. n/t

[ladylibertee]

2. They certainly should. investigate Just the mere fact....

that the patients were found and no medical staff or administration is enough for a guilty verdict.

[Journeyman]

3. If this is the place I read about last night. . .

the medical staff may have euthanized the patients since they were unable to move them and didn't want them to drown. This may create moral dilemmas far beyond our poor capacity to comprehend or value in the limited range of our woefully insufficient medical and judicial systems.

[Joseph Christ]

4. Actually i heard...

...that it was a hospital where they were putting the patients down. Not the nursing home.

[Born Free]

8. "Actually i heard..."

" ...that it was a hospital where they were putting the patients down. Not the nursing home."

I read that as well, but know it can't be true or the "Pro-Life" people would have made sure every news outlet on TV had it on. I talked with one of those individuals that were extremely vocal about Terri Schivo and he said he heard nothing about it, and none of his group even seemed interested. My only conclusion is it did not happen or else they would be upset.

[ladylibertee]

5. OH MY GOD ?????? What? Like they were animals?

was that some sick type of mercy killing? Oh that just pissed me the hell off right now.If that is true.Oh my god.:mad:

[craigolemiss]

6. Start at the top baby---start at the top

[cornermouse]

7. The abandonment of the nursing home residents to their deaths

was incomprehensible and outrageous. Charges should be filed.

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. And what about all the people in the hospitals?

I is beyond the capability of local officials to evacuate critically ill people and that is why the Feds are supposed to pitch in during emergency evacuations like this, yet it seems that they did nothing to help the local people get anyone out no less those most in need? If anyone wants to press charges, let's start at the top with people at the Federal level who thought their vacations were more important then doing their jobs.

[DrZeeLit]

10. Wait a minute. Waitaminute. Can't be. Death toll is only 37. (sarcasm)

[ninkasi]

11. I remember reading that they refused

evacuation, and said they had their own plan.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/?feed=TopNews&article=UPI-1-20050907-16415800-bc-us-katrina-nursinghome.xml

From the article

"Ronald Nunez, a local resident who tried to escape the nursing home doesn't understand why it wasn't evacuated in time. Parish Councilman Ricky Melerine doesn't understand it either.

St. Rita's sits in a valley which made the flooding more severe.

Steve Kuiper, vice president of operations for Acadian Ambulance said he was told St. Rita's had its own evacuation plan.

Acadian had used helicopters to evacuate other nursing homes."

They had apparently pushed tables against windows and doors, trying to keep the flood water out. When they couldn't, they left their patients to die.

[all.of.me]

12. "This shocks the conscience.

This is the most egregious example of failure to do what is right at the right time."

sounds like the federal government during a natural disaster.......

:crazy:

[Traveling_Home]

13. GO TO DC EARLY - OUR HOMES - NOT NURSING HOMES

OUR HOMES - NOT NURSING HOMES

http://www.adapt.org/bulletin.htm

SATURDAY SEPT 17TH-THURS.SEPT 22ND, 2005

IT'S TIME FOR CONGRESS TO ACT "END THE INSTITUTIONAL BIAS"
States are cutting home and community services and other needed support programs for people with disabilities. Congress is threatening to do the same.

It is time for Congress to reform Medicaid the right way: to give us the choice for all long term service and support options including community attendant services and supports.


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