EDIT: please see the correction in the middle of the post.
As I drove home from work yesterday I passed a sign directing supporters of embattled doctor Anna Pou to the Peristyle in City Park and since I'm your loyal blogger on the spot I ran into my apartment kissed the better half hello and goodbye, grabbed my camera and headed over through the light rain to catch the speeches, take some pictures and get my own impressions. Before we get to the rally, a quick round up. Dr. Pou and two nurses were arrested for killing four patients while on duty at Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans during the aftermath of Katrina. Recently a grand jury investigation forced the Attorney General (Mr Charles Foti) to drop all charges against the two nurses involved due to lack of evidence. Now Pou's supporters and the medical community are calling for all charges to be dropped against her and this rally was a way to get their voices heard.
The rally was intelligently choreographed with a set order of all of the types of people you would want to talk about how great you were appearing and Dr. Pou not in attendance. First came the announcer and rally organizer who told us how great it was everyone was here to support the doc (around 400 people in the crowd spilling out onto the street and the grass around the peristyle). She introduced a member of the clergy whose benediction referred to euthanasia as a good thing and a way to help alleviate the suffering of those beyond care. Then came Dr. Pou's brother who told us of her childhood and everything she had done for her family and community. Next was the doctor (the head of LSU EMT unit) who told us how qualified Dr. Pou is and how great she at taking on responsibility by volunteering for hurricane duty in the path of the storm. After that was the co-worker who was there during the aftermath of Katrina with the embattled doctor and wanted us to know she did everything she could to help and was a leader in a trying time. Then the nurse (head of the Louisiana Nursing Association) who read a letter signed by the AMA and the ANA (who apparently rarely agree this strongly) saying the charges scare first responders and medical personnel who stay behind in the event of a disaster (they worry a hard choice could be questioned by a politician with 20/20 hindsight) and suggesting the medical community by the first to question doctors' actions in times of hardship. Finally the lifelong friend of Dr. Pou's who spoke about the doctor's father's commitment to his community (the 9th ward) and how now Anna Pou was continuing this by doing everything in her power to serve the greater good. All of the speakers asked the DA to drop the charges and do what's right.
They gave out support rubber bracelets to all in attendance so we could show solidarity with the good doctor.
The only issue I had with the whole thing was the lack of diversity in the crowd. It was expected that at least a quarter of those in attendance were members of the medical community (possibly more), but the rally was by and large middle aged upper class white people, unfortunately. This made me wonder if the rally was missing a segment of the community or if if just didn't have as powerful a message as a crime rally (though more powerful than the anti-DA rally of Monday).
Now just cause I said they were mostly middle aged doesn't mean some kids weren't there. Throughout the crowd a dozen or so teenagers were wearing these custom shirts.
Speaking of anti-DA rallies, here we see the other signs. Someone else saw the similarities between this case and the Nifong one and another wants Foti and Jordan to leave together.
Speaking of politics, one candidate for Attorney General showed up with his supporters in what can only be seen as vulturism. Buddy Caldwell (correction) Supporters of a candidate for Attorney General stood on the side of the street near the rally, probably hoping to get some new voters in his ranks by appearing here. Personally this disgusted me, if only cause I don't think this was meant to be a true political rally, just a justice one.
EDIT 07/26/07: None of the three people pictured above are the candidate, DA Caldwell wasn't in New Orleans at the time. I stand by my opinion that no one should have been campaigning at this rally (if not asked to by the organizers), but it wasn't right to place the accusation on the candidate without (to quote a commenter) "doing [my] homework" first.
Unlike Caldwell, my state rep for district 94, Nick Lorusso was there because this was part of his district (and he's running for reelection, but no stickered supporters on the sidelines to distract from the message, just a state rep showing up for his constituents).
All and all a large crowd turned out to show their support, now to see if this had any effect.
1. So, according to the AMA and the ANA only the medical community should be allowed to question the actions of doctors and nurses working in extreme conditions. If this is true, I find it disturbing. I don't want Dr. Pou to be the target of a witch-hunt, and much of my sympathy has been with her throughout this ordeal. But that doesn't mean I believe the actions of doctors and nurses should ever be outside the reaches of criminal investigation if a criminal investigation is warranted. Which brings me to the next thing about your article that disturbs me.
You say, "She introduced a member of the clergy whose benediction referred to euthanasia as a good thing and a way to help alleviate the suffering of those beyond care." I wasn't there and didn't hear this benediction. I'll have to take you're word that the benediction was about euthanasia. Up until now I had always heard that Dr. Pou vehemently claims that's not what she did. Personally, I agree with this clergy and see euthanasia as merciful and I believe I would want it for myself if the situation were dire enough. But the problem is, I don't know how the patients who died in this case felt about it. I also I don't know how dire the situation was, and I don't know how their loved ones feel about it. And no matter what my feelings on euthanasia are, it's illegal, and until the law changes to excuse it in extreme situations, allegations of it should be criminally investigated.
If it's true the charges against Dr. Pou are bogus and based on flimsy evidence and politically motivated and yada, yada, yada, then I'm very sorry for what she has gone through and most certainly hope her ordeal ends soon. But the more I think about it, the less appauling I find the idea of a criminal investigation into her actions.
Now nobody worry. I've already been told what a terrible person I am for feeling this way and that during the next hurricane I deserve to die in unbearable heat and pain with no good doctors or nurses to help me. If anyone else out there feels this is true, by all means, go ahead and let me know, but at least have the decency to educate me a little while you're doing it.
Posted at 9:14PM on Jul 19th 2007 by Julie