By Sheri Fink
This book was a wild ride. It’s hard to believe that it is a true story. I was only 16 when Katrina happened, and I was quite naive to anything that wasn’t current high schooler drama. Honestly, I think I would have been more mentally aware if I had a smartphone, seeing as social media and news websites are vast sources of what is happening in the world.
Being so far removed from the disaster, I didn’t pay much attention to it, except the stories I saw on the news of people waiting for the disaster. I heard all about people stuck at the Superdome, and the horrible conditions there. I didn’t even know that the hospitals were so impacted until I heard the story on NPR regarding this book. It was then that I requested it from the library.
The book itself is divided into two parts: the first part is the story of the five days spent at Memorial Hospital in New Orleans during Katrina, while the second part examines the legal battle that ensued in the Katrina aftermath. I found the first part very interesting, and I could hardly put it down; however, the second part I found a bit boring because it was entirely about the legal process. The ethics of patient euthanasia is very interesting, and I am very conflicted after hearing so many views. Really though, law does not interest me, and I had a very hard time trudging through all the details and small legal and media battles.
Overall, the first part of the book makes a good book. I think the second part of the book would make a better documentary.
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