58 pages • 1 hour read
Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital
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Book Brief
592
Book • Nonfiction
New Orleans, Louisiana • 2000s
2013
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Published in 2013, Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink details the harrowing experiences of patients and staff trapped in New Orleans' Memorial Medical Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. Amidst inadequate resources and escalating conditions, doctors face heart-wrenching decisions leading to patient deaths. Written in a journalistic style, it includes extensive backgrounds on key individuals and thorough documentation.
Informative
Dark
Unnerving
Mysterious
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
40,423 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink offers a harrowing, detailed account of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina at a New Orleans hospital. Praised for its investigative rigor and compassionate storytelling, it effectively humanizes complex ethical dilemmas. However, some readers find the narrative structure disjointed. Overall, it's a thought-provoking read on medical ethics and disaster response.
Who Should Read Five Days at Memorial?
Readers who are captivated by medical ethics, disaster response, and human resilience will find Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink compelling. Fans of Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks or Erik Larson's The Devil in the White City will appreciate its investigative narrative and emotional depth.
40,423 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Butch Schafer
Butch Schafer
An assistant attorney general with the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, focused on prosecuting the Memorial case following the Katrina disaster.
Virginia Rider
Virginia Rider
A special agent in the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, dedicated to the case against Dr. Pou, and operates alongside Butch Schafer.
Richard Simmons
Richard Simmons
The defense attorney who represents Dr. Pou and orchestrates a successful campaign to gather public support in her favor.
Dr. Frank Minyard
Dr. Frank Minyard
The Orleans Parish coroner who is concerned about the societal impacts of a criminal case against Dr. Pou and grapples with the ethics of the situation.
Susan Mulderick
Susan Mulderick
The nursing director and designated incident commander during Hurricane Katrina, known for her calm demeanor under pressure at Memorial Hospital.
Cheri Landry and Lori Budo
Cheri Landry and Lori Budo
ICU nurses at Memorial Hospital who are associated with the case involving decisions during the Hurricane Katrina crisis.
Dr. Horace Baltz
Dr. Horace Baltz
A seasoned doctor at Memorial Hospital who opposes euthanasia as an emergency option and comments on support events for Dr. Pou.
Dr. John Thiele
Dr. John Thiele
A critical care specialist at Memorial who engages in pet euthanasia and supports Dr. Pou’s decisions during the emergency.
Emmett Everett
Emmett Everett
A paraplegic patient at Memorial Hospital who is lively and awaits evacuation during the Hurricane Katrina crisis.
Wilda and Angela McManus
Wilda and Angela McManus
A LifeCare patient at Memorial and her devoted daughter who navigates the tough circumstances during the Katrina disaster.
592
Book • Nonfiction
New Orleans, Louisiana • 2000s
2013
Adult
18+ years
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