Public Safety Signals

Decisions Under Pressure

2007 Sep 8 Posted by Joseph Pascarella

One of the components of public safety that is becoming more prevalent is health care and the role of health care in public safety first and second response. What is occurring at health care facilities during emergencies is becoming more transparent and even more so during intense emergencies. Health care and the role of health care first and second responders are faced with critical decisions with long term implications during the mitigation phase of a catastrophic disaster.

Consider the plight of health care officials during Hurricane Katrina. Health care officials responsible for health care facilities faced intense decisions regarding their physical facilities, staff, and most importantly, patients under their care as the water levels were reaching critical heights at the apex of the surge.

Owners of a nursing home in New Orleans were acquitted yesterday of negligent homicide in the deaths of 35 patients under their care. Essentially, they were charged with abandoning the nursing home they owned and operated during the storm surge and leaving debilitated patients behind.

In a separate case and incident, last July a Grand Jury dismissed the Indictment of Dr. Anna Pou and two nurses under her supervision who were accused of euthanizing patients as the waters were surging at her New Orleans hospital during Hurricane Katrina.

Imagine these dilemmas and the responsibility of health officials and the balance of public safety during a catastrophic emergency such as Hurricane Katrina.

Take care and have a great weekend.

Joe Pascarella

September 8, 2007 | Filed under: Uncategorized
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