Book SummaryFive Days at Memorial, by Sheri Fink

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Five Days at Memorial

Sheri Fink’s Five Days at Memorial is a nonfiction book that tells the story of Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans during and after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The book focuses on the experiences of doctors, nurses, and patients who were trapped in the hospital for five days without power, running water, or adequate supplies. Fink explores the ethical dilemmas faced by medical staff as they struggled to care for patients in extreme conditions, including decisions about triage, euthanasia, and the allocation of scarce resources. The book also examines the legal and political aftermath of the events at Memorial, including criminal investigations...

Five Days at Memorial Summary Systemic Failures and Pre-Existing Vulnerabilities

Fink explains that Memorial Hospital's backup electricity setup was vulnerable to flooding. Though the facility's backup generators were safely positioned one story up, certain vital components of the emergency electrical supply were situated below ground or just slightly above it. This design flaw was common in areas at risk for flooding, making it susceptible to water damage. In 2001, Tropical Storm Allison knocked out power in Houston hospitals since their backup generators or electrical components were beneath flood level. This incident caused concern for Dr. Kevin Stephens, New Orleans’s director of health, who surveyed the city’s hospitals to assess their flood preparedness and interest in federal funding for improvements. However, the hospitals responded unenthusiastically, citing high costs, and the initiative stalled.

(Shortform note: The aftermath of Tropical Storm Allison and the subsequent survey by Dr. Kevin Stephens reflect a broader pattern in U.S. disaster policy, where hospital infrastructure vulnerabilities often go unaddressed until a major crisis occurs. Historically, federal disaster policy has focused on providing guidance and funding for mitigation efforts,...

Five Days at Memorial Summary Crisis Response, Ethical Dilemmas, and Lawful Consequences

Fink discusses how the crisis at the hospital in Memorial highlighted ethical dilemmas in triage and patient care decisions. Doctors determined that patients with DNR directives would be evacuated last, based on the belief that these patients had less to lose. This decision wasn’t communicated to patients or their relatives, leading to distress when they discovered their loved ones were being left behind. The decision to prioritize patients with the best chance of survival over those in critical condition was based on a utilitarian approach, aiming to maximize benefits for as many people as possible. However, this approach raised ethical questions about whether it was just to sacrifice people who most needed care.

(Shortform note: Bioethicists like Tom Beauchamp and James Childress, authors of Principles of Biomedical Ethics, argue that the utilitarian approach to triage, which prioritizes patients with the best chance of survival, is based on the principle of beneficence. This principle emphasizes maximizing benefits for the greatest number of people. However, this approach can conflict with the principles of respect for persons and...

Shortform Exercise: Assessing Vulnerabilities at Memorial Hospital

Explore the systemic failures and pre-existing vulnerabilities that contributed to the crisis at Memorial Hospital during Hurricane Katrina.

Why was the backup electricity setup at Memorial Hospital vulnerable to flooding, and what design flaws contributed to this issue?