Charges Dropped Against Katrina Nurses

Two nurses, who were accused of giving four patients a "lethal cocktail" at a New Orleans hospital in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, are no longer facing second-degree murder charges after testifying before a grand jury last month. Both nurses insist that they did not testify against Dr. Anna Pou, who was also charged in the deaths.

Nurses Lori Budo and Cheri Landry were arrested and charged last summer with playing a part in the deaths of the four patients at the Memorial Medical Center, which was flooded after the Aug. 29, 2005 hurricane. As patients in the hospital waited four days to be rescued, 34 people died, mostly from dehydration.

Dr. Pou and the two nurses insisted that they did nothing wrong.

"We're very pleased. We thought this was how it would end," Landry's attorney John DiGiulio said Tuesday. "We're cautiously optimistic that when it's all over no one will be charged - including Dr. Pou (pictured)."

No Crimes Committed?

"It is important to understand that Lori Budo did not testify for or against anyone," said Budo's attorney Eddie Castaing. "Her only position was always to only tell the truth. We believe in the end that the grand jury will determine that no crimes were committed by anyone."

State Attorney General Charles Foti claimed that four of the patients - ranging in age from 61 to 90 years old - would have survived except for the morphine and midazolam hydrochloride administered to them. Both drugs are central nervous system depressants.

Many in the Louisiana medical community have come to the defense of the doctor and the nurses saying they were only trying to relieve their pain, not kill their patients.

Earlier Article:
Grand Jury to Hear Katrina Hospital Case

See Also:
No Case Against Nurses in Katrina Deaths

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