Update on Memorial Hospital
by Karen O'Keefe Thursday, Sep. 01, 2005 at 3:06 PM
karenokeefe (at) justice.com

The horrible situation at Memorial Hospital in New Orleans continues to worsen. Democracy Now! reports that yesterday Prof. Bill Quigley sent a text message saying: “No Water, Sick, ... Call Somebody for Help.� I believe that was somewhat after he described the situation as "lethally chaotic" in an interview with the Chicago Tribune.

As the Chicago Tribune reported, "People have been breaking windows to let in fresh air as temperatures inside the hospital rise above 110 degrees. Garbage and soiled linens lie strewn throughout the building. Most toilets aren't working."

It also reported: "Earlier Wednesday, [Bill Quigley] said, nurses carried critically ill patients up darkened and slippery stairways to the eighth floor, where they were told helicopters would ferry them to other medical institutions. But the helicopters never came, and staff had to bring the patients back down."

Here are articles on the situation in Memorial and other hospitals:
www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-050831hospitals-story,1,5213336.story
www.democracynow.org/article.pl
www.democracynow.org/article.pl

best wishes to you all,
Karen

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