By Eileen Fleming
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wwno/local-wwno-959187.mp3
New Orleans, La. – About 2,000 patients and staff were trapped in Memorial Medical Center after the storm. Power was knocked out and temperatures inside quickly soared over 100 degrees. Nurses spent hours pumping air by hand into patients struggling to breathe. Forty-five bodies, some left in the hospital chapel, were eventually recovered. Family of a man who died of dehydration started the class action. They accused the hospital of failing to properly plan for emergencies. Jury selection was under way when both sides announced a settlement was reached. Terms will be kept confidential. The court is expected to approve the agreement in a few weeks.
For WWNO, I'm Eileen Fleming.