Re: Dr Anna Pou Case‏


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From: John Pope (jpope@timespicayune.com)

Sent: Mon 10/09/06 9:47 AM

To: miranda lucianna (mirandaluc@hotmail.com)





Ms. Lucianna: Thanks for your note. Please check out a multi-part series that my colleague Jeffrey Meitrodt didon the days at Memorial Medical Center after Katrina blew through. Thosestories, based on information from a variety of sources, give the best ideawe're likely to get before the trial of what happened in that hospital. Best,John John PopeStaff writerThe Times-Picayune Phone: 504/826-3317Fax: 504/826-3007Cell: 504/717-1155e-mail: jpope@timespicayune.com----- Original Message ----- From: "miranda lucianna" To: Sent: 10/09/2006 9:47 AMSubject: Dr Anna Pou Case

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Dr Anna Pou Case‏


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10/09/06 jpope@timespicayune.comTo jpope@timespicayune.com

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Saved: Mon 10/09/06 7:47 AM

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While I read your article with much interest and have also followed the arguments of support for Dr. Pou, my concern is first of all no one has talked about what the other hospital employees have indicated actualy happened. For example, according toe the head nurse on the seventh floor Dr. Pou told her that the decision had been made to administer lethal injections and when asked of what the Dr. responded morhine and versed. Did the fellow employees who said these things simply make it up or misunderstood what the doctor said and then it is also my understanding from the original dmort exams unusually high amounts of these drug combinations where indeed found in the individuals. There are those who also say that Katrina killed those individuals, yet it is not a storm that makes a decision to inject a fellow human being with drugs. While the conditions at the hospital where aweful, there is no other hospital where these accusations have come to light. I am sure that Dr. Pou is a very kind and caring individual and did her best in a terrible situation but how can that possibly justify the accusation of deliberately killing four human beings irrespective of their medical condition. My deep fear is that in an attempt to escape from the conditions and in accordence with the policy of not leaving anyone alive behind that Dr. Pou made the decision that these patients could not be evacuated and since they could not be left she injected them. I so hope that did not happen and just writing this rips my heart out for I do indeed know the doctor but please keep this confidential. I cannot understand how a kind and caring individual could possible come to believe that such actions, if proven, where in the best interest of the patients. Miranda

apou@lsuhsc.eduapou@lsuhsc.edu




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My Dear Friend Dr. Anna Pou: How so very sorry I am to have read this past sad week that the results of the medical investigation are now headed toward the grand jury and how inadequate these words of comfort must seem when faced with such a pending ordeal. Please know that with much due respect my heart goes out to you and that you are most assuredly in my thoughts and in my prayers for I know that you are a kind and gentle individual who was willing to sacrifice your time and energy to help those who where sick and in need. Also, if you would like, I am more than willing to contact my father on your behalf, himself a highly repected attorney as well as a Visiting Doctor of Law at Oxford University, a Member of the Board of Directors of the International Court of Arbitration and Co-Founder of a law school in Rome, Italy. While I cannot promise anything, I am more than willing to ask if he has any advise or knows someone who may be able to help in your defense. If not then just know that the offer was made with much respect and sincerity. Your Friend from Far Away and with profound respect, Miranda

Continued Conversations

apou@lsuhsc.eduapou@lsuhsc.edu




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Saved: Thu 8/03/06 1:48 PM

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Dear Dr. Anna Pou:(A Few Final Thoughts)Though I am not one of those who follows with predictable regularity the unfolding stories splashed across the nightly screens or momentarily scanned in splashy and misleading headlines, I felt again a profound sense of sadness when I read about your troubles. After reading the testimony from your fellow employees, both nurses as well as those who comprised the crisis "command post", I thought to myself, how could a kind, caring and compassionate individual find herself in a situation where she felt administering combinations of morphine and Versed to patients, irrespective of their underlying pathology or chances of survival, was in their best interest. I thought that if I could just talk to you, not about the particulars involved in the case but rather about life in general, perhaps I could find the answer. And then I though to myself that in the end it really did not matter, there was nothing I could do about what happened on the seventh floor. Then I realized that there was indeed something I could do and it is this: from this point on all of my interactions with others, no matter their station in life, will be done with the utmost kindness and compassion in the hope that the ripple effects of those interactions might touch the lives of others in a positive and helpful way, thereby offsetting the effects your actions caused those months ago. For I do indeed beleive the things we say and do ultimately touches the lives of individuals we neither know nor will ever meet. For that I thank you. But please remember as I explained to you before: as far as I am concerned there is no judgement nor condemnation for in my Fathers kingdom there is only love. And so I say to you Dr. Anna Pou, please go in peace. Go in peace Dr. Anna Pou so that you too might have an answer to your prayer shared on the seventh floor those eleven months ago. Very Sincerely and with the Utmost Respect,Your Friend from Far Away,Miranda >From: "Pou, Anna M" >To: "miranda lucianna" >Subject: RE: A Friend from Far Away>Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 23:48:37 -0500>>Miranda,>Thank you again for your kindness.>anna>>________________________________>

Continued Conversations with Anna

Pou, Anna MTo miranda lucianna


From: Pou, Anna M (apou@lsuhsc.edu)

Sent: Mon 7/31/06 9:49 PM

To: miranda lucianna (mirandaluc@hotmail.com)





Miranda,

Thank you again for your kindness.

anna





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From: miranda lucianna [mailto:mirandaluc@hotmail.com]

Sent: Sun 7/30/2006 6:00 PM

To: Pou, Anna M

Subject: RE: A Friend from Far Away





Dear Dr. Anna Pou: Thank you so very much for taking a moment to respond to

my email. I was so happy to hear from you and even though we have not met,

you are absolutely in my daily prayers and in my thoughts and I hope this

day finds you surrounded by sunshine and kind friends. And please remember,

that there is at least one friend, no matter how far away, whose heart goes

out to you. I wish you only the very best. It is my sincere hope that

perhaps we can be friends, that perhaps an act of kindness and compassion

can offset the pain and suffering that this terrible storm has caused. In

terms of what happened in New Orleans before, during and after the storm,

between you and I, it really does not matter except to say I am so sorry

that the storm hurt so many people. Can I tell you something: the other day

as I prepared to go to work, I was thinking about the daily oportunities we

have to be a blessing to those whom we meet, to show a demonstration of

compassion and kindness to those around us and in the so doing hope that our

actions while not able to erase the pain and suffering that exist in the

world, perhaps to at least offset it. You see in my field, I also help

people on a daily basis and I sincerely hope that my actions, my words of

kindness and compassion, may help to make their days a little brighter so

that when I go home at night I may know in my heart that while I have not

"saved the world" perhaps I have made it at least a little happier and a

little brighter and the people glad to have known me. As I write this I

glanced out the window and you want to know something: it is a wonderful

sunny day,the trees are swaying in a slight breeze and the tall mountains

are showing their wonderful greens and browns and even blues. (Perhaps that

is why they are called the Blue Mountains.) I hope that your day is filled

with wonderful and delightful vista's too and that you and I can be friends

and visit. And remember this: there is no judgement nor condemnation because

I am your friend as I hope you too can be.



Very Sincerely and Respectfully,

Your Friend,

Miranda

apou@lsuhsc.eduapou@lsuhsc.edu




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Dear Dr. Anna Pou: Thank you so very much for taking a moment to respond to my email. I was so happy to hear from you and even though we have not met, you are absolutely in my daily prayers and in my thoughts and I hope this day finds you surrounded by sunshine and kind friends. And please remember, that there is at least one friend, no matter how far away, whose heart goes out to you. I wish you only the very best. It is my sincere hope that perhaps we can be friends, that perhaps an act of kindness and compassion can offset the pain and suffering that this terrible storm has caused. In terms of what happened in New Orleans before, during and after the storm, between you and I, it really does not matter except to say I am so sorry that the storm hurt so many people. Can I tell you something: the other day as I prepared to go to work, I was thinking about the daily oportunities we have to be a blessing to those whom we meet, to show a demonstration of compassion and kindness to those around us and in the so doing hope that our actions while not able to erase the pain and suffering that exist in the world, perhaps to at least offset it. You see in my field, I also help people on a daily basis and I sincerely hope that my actions, my words of kindness and compassion, may help to make their days a little brighter so that when I go home at night I may know in my heart that while I have not "saved the world" perhaps I have made it at least a little happier and a little brighter and the people glad to have known me. As I write this I glanced out the window and you want to know something: it is a wonderful sunny day,the trees are swaying in a slight breeze and the tall mountains are showing their wonderful greens and browns and even blues. (Perhaps that is why they are called the Blue Mountains.) I hope that your day is filled with wonderful and delightful vista's too and that you and I can be friends and visit. And remember this: there is no judgement nor condemnation because I am your friend as I hope you too can be. Very Sincerely and Respectfully,Your Friend,Miranda

Anna Pou Responds

My dear friends:
It has been nearly two years since my last post and I do apolagise for the long delay. The reason for the delay was a result of my two phone conversations with Sheri Fink. I contacted Sheri after reading her article, Deadly Choices which dealt with the events at Memorial Hospital right after hurricane Katrina had made landfall in New Orleans. I explained to Sheri that I was in the process of sharing my story and involvement  with Dr. Anna Pou. Sheri asked me not to publish any more information on my site but rather to tell my story. We talked by phone on two occasions for appoximently eight hours. After that, I never heard from her again. So I decided to continue my postes because I would like there to me a historical record of my conversations with Anna between June, 2006 to July, 2007. I also intend publishing here all the emails. What folows is the first email I sent to Anna. It was basically a letter of introduction.

To apou@lsuhsc.edu


From: apou@lsuhsc.edu (apou@lsuhsc.edu)

Saved: Fri 7/28/06 5:51 PM

To: apou@lsuhsc.edu



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Dear Dr. Anna Pou: I sincerely understand and can imagine that you receive lots of email on a daily basis and would please ask that before deleting my email, please at least read what I have sent with an open and understanding heart. I also understand that you do not know me and that I live far far away from your state and the tragic circumstances swirling around last years act of nature.I myself was in the hospital recovery from major surgery and watched on tv the heart wrenching events as they unfolding in New Orleans. I can still remember how my heart just cried out for the ordeal the citizens where going through and even remember turning the tv off a number of times because I felt so sad for the folks who lost their homes and jobs and friends and pets. Even today I think back on what happened and my heart just is so sad about the tragedy. I sincerely hope that you will please read this with as kind an open heart with which it was written and that perhaps you will find it within your heart to respond with what I hope is the sensitivity in which it was composed. I would like very much to be a friend and to understand what happened without judgement or reservation. Sincerely and Very Respectfully,Miranda



I remember that when I sent Anna this email, I did not know if she would reply. Afterall, I was a complete stranger and she had therefor no real reason to reply. Approximately two days later, I received and email response from Anna.
To miranda lucianna


From: Pou, Anna M (apou@lsuhsc.edu)

Sent: Sun 7/30/06 11:35 AM

To: miranda lucianna (mirandaluc@hotmail.com)





Dear Miranda,

Thank you for contacting me and keeping an open mind. I am not at liberty to discuss the events that occurred during the wake of Katrina at this time.

If you can find it in your heart to do so, please keep the family members of those who died during Katrina, the nurses and me in your prayers.

With Warmest Regards,

Anna





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: miranda lucianna [mailto:mirandaluc@hotmail.com]

Sent: Fri 7/28/2006 7:51 PM

To: Pou, Anna M

Subject: A Friend from Far Away





Dear Dr. Anna Pou: I sincerely understand and can imagine that you receive

lots of email on a daily basis and would please ask that before deleting my

email, please at least read what I have sent with an open and understanding

heart. I also understand that you do not know me and that I live far far

away from your state and the tragic circumstances swirling around last years

act of nature.I myself was in the hospital recovery from major surgery and

watched on tv the heart wrenching events as they unfolding in New Orleans. I

can still remember how my heart just cried out for the ordeal the citizens

where going through and even remember turning the tv off a number of times

because I felt so sad for the folks who lost their homes and jobs and

friends and pets. Even today I think back on what happened and my heart just

is so sad about the tragedy. I sincerely hope that you will please read this

with as kind an open heart with which it was written and that perhaps you

will find it within your heart to respond with what I hope is the

sensitivity in which it was composed. I would like very much to be a friend

and to understand what happened without judgement or reservation.



Sincerely and Very Respectfully,

Miranda



I remember when I received Anna's response how happy I was. I felt at the time that her resonse was the beginning of a conversation that I hoped would eventually allow me to answer the question of how something like this could have occured in America in the 20th century.