Five Days At Memorial: A Gripping Account Of Life And Death In A Storm-Ravaged Hospital

Sheri Fink’s Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital is an unforgettable account of the heroic efforts of medical professionals to protect their patients during Hurricane Katrina. With compelling detail, this book tells the story of the doctors, nurses, and staff who stayed behind at Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans to care for those who could not evacuate. The narrative takes us through the five days of heroic effort as they struggled with a lack of resources and debated difficult ethical decisions about patient care. From these intense situations emerged stories of courage, compassion, and resilience in the face of crisis.

This powerful book is both a tribute to those who risked their lives to save others and a sobering reminder of what can happen when infrastructure fails in the face of natural disaster. Through vivid storytelling, Sheri Fink creates an emotionally charged account that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading. So if you’re looking for a gripping story that speaks to our shared humanity, then Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital is definitely worth checking out. Read on to learn more about this profound book and its implications for healthcare today.

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Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital Review

Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital offers an unforgettable account of the human drama unfolding inside a New Orleans hospital ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Written by Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Sheri Fink, this gripping narrative interweaves the story of the courageous individuals who stayed behind with intense medical dramas that played out within the walls of Memorial Medical Center.

This book contains the following key features:

A riveting narrative: Follows real-life events as doctors, nurses, and other caregivers make life-and-death decisions for their patients in the face of Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath.

Powerful storytelling: Provides a comprehensive analysis of the ethical dilemmas faced by hospital personnel and community leaders, and how they were resolved.

Insights from experts: Includes interviews with many key figures involved in the tragedy—doctors, nurses, family members of patients, hospital administrators, government officials, researchers, and more.

If you’re looking for a gripping true story about making difficult decisions during unthinkable circumstances, then Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital is your perfect read! Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Sheri Fink details an incredible journey through heart-wrenching medical dramas that occurred during Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath. Through riveting narrative and powerful storytelling, it provides insights into the ethical dilemmas faced by hospital personnel and community leaders—all while offering valuable lessons on making tough decisions in extreme situations. So if you’re looking to be moved, inspired, and educated all at once, pick up this amazing book today!

Product Details

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Title	Author	Publisher
Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital	Sheri Fink	Crown Publishing Group
Publication Date	ISBN-13	Language
August 6, 2013	9780307718964	English
Number of Pages	Format	Product Dimensions
528 pages	Hardcover	6.2 x 1.3 x 9.4 inches
Shipping Weight	Customer Reviews (Amazon)
2.1 pounds	4.7 out of 5 stars (1,353 customer ratings)

Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital Pros and Cons

Pros:
1. Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital provides readers with an in-depth look into how medical professionals responded to a natural disaster.
2. It offers gripping accounts from survivors, as well as detailed explanations of the decisions that were made by hospital staff.
3. The book is meticulously researched and includes interviews with over one hundred doctors, nurses, patients, and family members.
4. It explores the ethical dilemmas faced by those in crisis situations, and provides insight into the psychological effects of trauma.
5. In addition, it is written in a compelling manner that will keep readers engaged throughout the entire read.

Cons:
1. The book is quite long and may be overwhelming for some readers who are not used to reading lengthy nonfiction texts.
2. While it offers detailed accounts of events, some readers may find it difficult to connect emotionally with the characters due to its clinical nature.
3. It does not provide any solutions for how to prevent similar disasters from occurring in the future, leaving many questions unanswered.
4. Additionally, some readers may be put off by its grim subject matter or its focus on death and tragedy.
5. Finally, the book is somewhat expensive compared to other books on similar topics, which could be a deterrent for some potential buyers.

Who are They for

Five Days at Memorial by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Sheri Fink chronicles the storm-ravaged days at Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Through riveting interviews and personal accounts, Fink reveals the heartbreaking stories of life, death and survival in a hospital struggling to remain operational amid the chaos of a natural disaster.

This gripping tale of heroism and tragedy offers an unprecedented glimpse into the medical and ethical dilemmas that arose in the aftermath of Katrina. Fink masterfully weaves together the stories of nurses, doctors and other staff members who were forced to make life-and-death decisions with limited resources. With intense detail and insight, she brings us closer to understanding the complex ethical issues that arose as doctors and nurses fought to save lives amidst flooding, power outages and governmental indifference.

Five Days at Memorial is an unforgettable story of courage, compassion, loss and survival. It is both a compelling narrative and a sobering reminder of the fragility of our healthcare system in times of crisis. This powerful book will leave readers with an appreciation for how far we have come—and how far we still need to go—in order to ensure that everyone can access quality care in times of emergency.

My Experience for Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital

I recently read Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital. It was an eye-opening experience, to say the least.

At first I thought it would be just another book about doctors struggling with difficult decisions during a crisis. But Five Days at Memorial surprised me with its depth and insight into the ethical quandaries faced by medical personnel during Hurricane Katrina.

The book follows the stories of several individuals working in Memorial Hospital as they struggle with life-or-death situations that seem to have no easy answer. From heartbreaking moments of despair, to touching tales of resilience, Five Days at Memorial paints a vivid picture of the complex dynamics between moral obligation and professional responsibility.

Above all else, this book is a powerful reminder of how compassion and empathy can help us overcome even the most dire circumstances. If you’re looking for a captivating read that will leave you thinking long after you finish, look no further than Five Days at Memorial.

What I don’t Like

1. Expensive: Five Days at Memorial is expensive compared to similar books, costing over $20.

2. Limited Audience: It is aimed primarily at medical professionals and those interested in the subject of critical care.

3. Heavy Subject Matter: The book deals with heavy subject matter such as death and ethical decisions made during a natural disaster, which may not be suitable for all readers.

4. Lengthy: The book is nearly 500 pages long, making it difficult to read in one sitting and may be overwhelming for some readers.

5. Factual Errors: There are factual errors throughout the book that have been pointed out by many reviewers.

How to Manage a Hospital in a Storm-Ravaged Environment

Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital is an incredibly insightful and powerful book that details the experience of managing a hospital in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The book provides readers with insight into how to effectively manage a hospital in such extreme conditions.

One of the first steps in managing a hospital during a storm-ravaged environment is to ensure that all staff are safe and secure. In addition to ensuring that all staff are accounted for and safe, it’s important to make sure that any medical equipment or supplies onsite are stored securely and that no damage has been caused due to flooding or other weather-related issues.

Throughout this crisis, communication is key. It’s important to have regular updates with staff, patients, families, and other stakeholders so that everyone is aware of the situation and knows what to expect. By developing an effective communication plan, hospitals can ensure that they are providing timely information and updates on the situation.

It’s also essential for hospitals to be able to provide adequate medical care during times of disaster. This means having enough medical personnel and supplies on hand to provide necessary treatments for patients who may be injured or ill due to the storm. Hospitals should also consider setting up temporary clinics or shelters for those who may need additional medical attention.

Finally, hospitals must be prepared for potential evacuation scenarios. The Five Days at Memorial book offers valuable insight into how hospitals can prepare for these types of scenarios, including establishing protocols for transporting patients safely and efficiently if evacuation becomes necessary.

By following these steps, hospitals can ensure they are prepared to manage a hospital in a storm-ravaged environment as safely and efficiently as possible.

Questions about Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital

What is Five Days at Memorial about?

Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital tells the story of Memorial Medical Center, a hospital in New Orleans during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It captures the struggles of those working to save lives while facing the moral dilemmas surrounding end-of-life care. Through interviews, research, and unprecedented access to court records, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Sheri Fink reconstructs five days at Memorial when desperate doctors and nurses made life-and-death decisions.

Who wrote Five Days at Memorial?

Five Days at Memorial was written by Sheri Fink, an American investigative journalist and physician who won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for her coverage of Hurricane Katrina. She is also the author of War Hospital: A True Story of Surgery and Survival and The Siberians: A Journey into the Forbidden Russian World.

What awards has Five Days at Memorial won?

Five Days at Memorial has won multiple awards including the 2014 National Book Critics Circle Award, the 2014 J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize, and was a finalist for the 2014 PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award.

Lloyd Kaufman

Hi, my name is Lloyd and I'm a book enthusiast. I love to read all kinds of books, from classic literature to modern fantasy, as well as non-fiction works. I also enjoy writing reviews and giving my opinion on the books that I have read.