In the news: State of Louisiana asked to pay Pou's legal fees

A few weeks ago, MS Leader Connection urged hospitals to review or develop disaster privileges to protect themselves against legal battles, highlighting Dr. Anna Pou’s experience post-Katrina. Pou stayed with her patients at Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans for several days after Hurricane Katrina hit despite intense heat and no electricity. She was later accused of murdering several patients during those harrowing days. Most of the charges were later dropped, but the case caught the healthcare community’s attention.

Last week, the Attorney Fee Review Board recommended that the state of Louisiana pay the $450,000 it cost to defend Pou, according to a March 18 article in The Times-Picayune. Of that $450,000, LSU Health Network incurred more than $312,000 of the cost and The Dr. Anna Pou Defense Fund contributed close to $145,000.

The argument stems from the fact that although Pou had privileges at Memorial Medical Center, where she was thought to have administered lethal drug doses to several patients, Pou was also working for LSU Health Sciences Center, and is therefore considered to have been a state employee.

The Louisiana legislature convenes for a two-month session starting April 27, where lawmakers could decide to abide by the request, agree to pay a portion of the legal fees, or refuse to pay at all, says The Times-Picayune article.