A doctor and two nurses have been arrested for presumed mercy killings during Katrina

I fail to see any correlation between a drug addicted, wife abuser and the Doc’s and nurses in New Orleans who were laboring under horrific conditions. I read early reports of this happening in New Orleans, and the intent was to reduce suffering, not to “off” patients for the thrill of it. Unfortunately the right-to-lifers will run with this story, offering it as another example of the “culture of death” they allege is promoted by the medical and hospice communities.

I suspect this has been a regular practice on battlefields, and I see no difference in this instance.

What if it was your parent that these medical professionals decided to “off”. Would you be beating the drum for immunity from negligence for physicians then?? Its only when charges or lawsuits are filed that the general public finds out there really are some bad docs out there. Since they can’t figure it out, a Judge or jury needs to tell them what they did was wrong.

first commentor: DOs are full physicians, so that snarky comment only shows your ignorance and/or general douchebaggery. an MD could have done the same thing or worse, and many have.

as for the doc and nurses in NOLA, it’s terribly sad that they either had to resort to mercy killing or were directed to do so by hospital administration. being brought up on murder charges for it is even scarier- because how many of us know what we would in a similar situation?

What if it was your parent that these medical professionals decided to “off”.
What if it were yours? Would you rather have your loved ones to suffer for days in 110 degree heat without food or water and then die anyway or would you rather they die painlessly and quickly? What about yourself? Would you have loved to just lie there and die slowly?

My mother said that if she had been a patient she’d want someone to relieve her suffering rather than let her suffer. Knowing how my parents feel, I’d be glad if someone honored her wishes in a similar situation.