Healthcare centers continue to perform an important role in the provision of essential medical care to communities during disaster times (Ardent & Hess, 2006). The role of healthcare facilities and healthcare professionals in providing services at critical times cannot be underestimated. However, studies have shown that it is vital for any healthcare facility to prepare for emergencies and disasters at any given time. A case in point is what happened during Katrina in one of the hospitals in New Orleans (Fink, 2014). In the Memorial Hospital, LifeCare, a long-term life facility rented a floor from which it would be providing services. However, during the Katrina experience, the LifeCare medical staff was overwhelmed by the event to the extent of neglecting patients, some in their ICU units (Berry, 2013). The issue of leaving patients alone as witnessed in the case study is more of an ethical issue than a legal one. Under the Provision 2 of the code of ethics for nurses, the primary commitment of nurses is to the patients, regardless of groups, community, individuals, family, friends, or even population. Based on the case study, the LifeCare staff members seemed to care more about their lives and disregarding their commitment to the patients. In this case, therefore, the primary stakeholders are healthcare providers at LifeCare especially their leaders.
Two Possible Solutions to the Ethical Issue
In addressing the problem and the situation at the Memorial Hospital, one of the solutions would be first to ensure that all patients are stabilized and that they are the first ones to be evacuated as they were the most vulnerable in the prevailing situations. As witnessed in the Memorial Hospital, everyone was running for his life and ready to be evacuated (Fink, 2014). In fact, it was surprising that even senior doctors in the facility would leave patients behind with their families on the bed. For example, when one of the senior members of the LifeCare staff was asked why they were leaving patients, he noted that everyone was “now a patient” (Fink, 2014). This showed the level of incompetence demonstrated by the staff.
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The second option would be to ensure that there were not only enough healthcare providers but also they are qualified enough to handle such emergencies. From the case study, it has been pointed out that some providers were students or freshly graduated (Berry, 2013). It is unfortunate that Isbell would leave a patient with a student yet the patient was in a critical condition. At the same time, it is surprising that the Memorial Hospital’s staff members, who are expected to be more organized, took long to intervene and take over the management of the patients under the LifeCare (Fink, 2014).
Identifying the Best Solution
In reference to the above two possible interventions to address the problem, the first answer of stabilizing patients and evacuating them first would be most effective (Gumly, 2015). Critical to note is that it was an emergency situation and there was a need to save ALL lives. However, due to their level of vulnerability, the evacuation process would have prioritized patients. Under the Nursing Values and Ethical Responsibilities, nurses are required and expected to provide compassionate, safe, ethical and competent care to patients (Gumly, 2015). At the same time, they are supposed to help in the promotion and respect of well-informed decision-making process. However, from the Memorial Hospital, the LifeCare nurses and medical doctors seemed to act contrary to these provisions (Berry, 2013). For example, Kathryn is forced to attend to her sick relative on the bed, including giving a prescription. On their part, healthcare providers are concerned about how they will move out of the facility.
References
Ardent, L., & Hess, D. (2006). Hospital Decision Making in the Wake of Katrina: The Case of New Orleans . New York, NY: MCEER.
Berry, J. (2013). ‘Five Days at Memorial,’ by Sheri Fink . Nytimes.com . Retrieved 9 November 2017, from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/04/books/five-days-at-memorial-by-sheri-fink.html
Fink, S. (2014). Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital . New York, NY: Broadway Books.
Gumly, Y. (2015). The Louisiana Nursing Practice Act. California Nurse , 106 (5), 250-266.
