[Vision2020] FW: Hurricane medical mess--I've given up

[B. J. Swanson]

Visionaries,

 

I received this from Elaine Riegle and have permission to share it with you.
Some of you may remember Elaine.  She is an M.D. and was a partner with Dr.
Alvin Frostad in Pullman and Moscow in the 1980's.  She is retired now and
frequently goes on medical missions all over the world.  She has given
volunteer medical assistance in 14 countries including the war zones of
Western Africa where she has been shot at.  She says she's good enough for
all other nations, but not good enough for the USA.  Elaine lives near St.
Louis.  Read on..

 

B. J. Swanson

  _____  

From: Elaine Riegle
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 8:18 AM
To: "Undisclosed-Recipient:;"@socket.net
Subject: Hurricane medical mess--I've given up

 

Hi:

 

I've tried every avenue I can think of to get to the disaster area without
success.  I have found out that the problem is not just with me but with
thousands of medical volunteers throughout the US.  All fields of medical
care are blocked.  My name is in several relief organizations but when I
contacted them, they all had messages saying they were swamped with
volunteers so please do not try and contact them.  One M.D. tried to respond
to the mass notification from the US Dept of Health and Human Services (same
message I received) and actually reached someone.  He was told to watch CNN.
Several have tried to drive to the area and been stopped at the govt borders
and turned away.  Docs have closed down practices, left their homes, and
really tried to get in--no success.  One multi-million dollar mobile
hospital gave up on Louisiana and set up in a deserted Wal-Mart lot in
Mississippi.  I was initially turned away from a 'Disaster Response Team' on
Sept 3, because I didn't have 'clearance'.

 

The part that really bothers me was the report on Channel 4, Ten o'clock
news, last night.  The reporter was interviewing the leader of the "Disaster
Response Team" at the New Orleans Airport.  I didn't get all the numbers,
but something like 20-30 medical personnel are trying to care for over
15,000 people a day.  They have no medicine, I.V's, or relief help.  They
were the instant responders and have been alone since.  This team leader was
saying that they have to see people and immediately make decisions on "live
or not live".  The ones that appear to be dying, are put on a cot and given
a shot of morphine and left to die.  He says they label these people
"Expectant" and move on to the people that seem to have a chance.  He said
30-40 people have been left to die--mostly the old and sick.  The reporter
said = These are people that have survived a hurricane, 9-10 days with no
food, water, or care.  Now they have finally been helicoptered to the
airport.  Now they are labeled "expectant', given morphine, pushed aside and
die.  The team leader said "That's correct".  "We have no medicine,  We have
no IV's"

 

Let your thought go on without further editorializing from me.  This is the
USA.

 

Elaine Riegle

 

Also, look up the CNN report = "Katrina medical help held up by red tape"
and "Mobile hospital up and running".

 

 

 

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