When a storm like Hurricane Katrina hits, the stories that linger aren’t always about the floodwaters. Five Days at Memorial, the Apple TV+ series, dives into one of the most painful ethical questions from that disaster: what really happened to 45 patients who died at Memorial Medical Center? Based on Sheri Fink’s Pulitzer-winning investigation, the show reignites a debate that has dragged on for nearly two decades, and the answer isn’t as clear as you might think.

4 related posts

Hurricane Katrina landfall: August 29, 2005 ·
Deaths at Memorial Hospital: 45 ·
Dr. Anna Pou charged: False imprisonment and conspiracy (2006) ·
Dr. Anna Pou acquitted: 2007 – all charges dropped or acquitted ·
Book publication: 2013 ·
TV series release: 2022 (Apple TV+)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

The key facts below offer a quick reference for the core details of the book, series, and legal aftermath.

Label Value
Original Book Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital (2013)
Author Sheri Fink (Pulitzer Prize winner)
TV Series Premiere August 12, 2022 on Apple TV+
Number of Episodes 8
Main Subject Dr. Anna Pou and the patient deaths at Memorial Medical Center

How accurate is the series 5 Days at Memorial?

According to IMDb (series description), the show is a direct adaptation of Sheri Fink’s book, which itself grew out of a 2009 New York Times Magazine article. The series dramatizes the first five days after the hurricane, including the flood, power failure, and the triage decisions that led to allegations of euthanasia. Doctors and critics have raised concerns that the series sensationalizes events. A History vs. Hollywood (fact-check analysis) notes that the pathologist who examined four of the bodies concluded all four died by homicide. Yet the series leaves much open to interpretation.

The paradox

The show asks viewers to judge an impossible situation, but the legal system already concluded no crime was committed – a tension that leaves both sides unsatisfied.

What do doctors and critics say about the series?

  • Some medical professionals argue the series misrepresents the desperation of the moment (Local TV News (doctor interviews)).
  • Others praise it for raising tough ethical questions about end-of-life care during disasters (IMDb (review summary)).

Key differences between the book and the series

  • The book includes extensive legal documents and interviews not featured in the series (History vs. Hollywood (adaptation differences)).
  • The series compresses timelines and merges characters for dramatic effect (History vs. Hollywood (adaptation differences)).

Factual accuracy of medical details and timeline

  • The triage system that deprioritized critically ill patients is accurately depicted (Knauss Law Firm (triage protocol)).
  • However, the exact dosages of morphine administered remain disputed (Knauss Law Firm (medical evidence)).

Bottom line: Viewers should treat the series as a dramatization rooted in real events, not a documentary. For the most authoritative account, read Fink’s book.

What to watch

When watching, pay attention to the dilemma faced by nurses: they are the ones who administered the drugs, yet the legal fallout fell almost entirely on one doctor.

What happened to Dr. Anna Pou?

Dr. Anna Pou was an oncology surgeon at Memorial Medical Center when the hurricane struck. She became the central figure in allegations that lethal doses of morphine and midazolam were given to patients who could not be evacuated.

Dr. Pou’s role at Memorial Hospital

  • She was one of the doctors who stayed behind to care for patients after the evacuation order (History vs. Hollywood (Pou’s role)).
  • Allegations claim she ordered or administered injections that hastened deaths (History vs. Hollywood (allegations)).

Criminal charges and trial

  • In 2006, the Louisiana Attorney General charged her with second-degree murder, later reduced (Knauss Law Firm (legal charges)).
  • A grand jury refused to indict her in 2007 (Local TV News (grand jury decision)).
  • Charges against nurses Cheri Landry and Lori Budo were also dropped (IMDb (nurses’ charges)).

Public perception: hero or criminal?

  • Many in the medical community defend her as a hero who acted under duress (Knauss Law Firm (public opinion analysis)).
  • The series portrayal has divided viewers: some see a murderer, others a scapegoat (IMDb (audience reviews)).

Where is Dr. Anna Pou now?

  • She still practices medicine in Louisiana as a surgeon (IMDb (current work)).
  • She has given limited interviews and continues to maintain her innocence (Local TV News (Pou’s public statements)).
  • The series renewal of public interest has not changed her legal status (IMDb (post-trial life)).

Bottom line: Dr. Pou was prosecuted for acts she says were compassionate care. The legal system ultimately agreed, but the court of public opinion remains split.

How many patients died in Five Days at Memorial?

In the days after Hurricane Katrina, 45 patients died at Memorial Medical Center. This number is undisputed, but the cause of each death is not.

Official death count at Memorial Medical Center

  • 45 bodies were extracted from the hospital (History vs. Hollywood (body count)).
  • Some deaths were due to the storm – heat, dehydration, lack of medication (History vs. Hollywood (causes of death)).
  • At least four patients were found by the pathologist to have died from lethal injections (History vs. Hollywood (forensic findings)).

Causes of death during and after the hurricane

  • Many patients died because the hospital lost power and could not provide life support (Knauss Law Firm (hospital conditions)).
  • Others reportedly received high doses of morphine, which may have been intended to relieve suffering but also accelerated death (Knauss Law Firm (medication analysis)).

How many bodies were found later?

  • All 45 bodies were eventually recovered from the hospital (History vs. Hollywood (recovery efforts)).
  • The legal investigation focused on a subset of cases where euthanasia was suspected (IMDb (investigation scope)).

Bottom line: 45 is the final count, but the ethical line between mercy and murder remains blurred in many of those deaths.

Where is Anna Pou now?

Dr. Anna Pou is still a practicing surgeon in Louisiana. Despite the intense scrutiny, she has not been convicted of any crime and continues her medical career.

Dr. Pou’s medical career after the trial

  • She works as a surgeon in the same region where the events took place (IMDb (current career)).
  • She has not faced any major public discipline related to the Katrina deaths (IMDb (no further charges)).

Her current practice and public appearances

  • Dr. Pou has given few interviews, preferring to let the legal record speak (Local TV News (media silence)).
  • The Apple TV+ series has brought renewed attention, but she has not changed her stance (IMDb (series impact)).

Bottom line: Dr. Pou remains a licensed, working physician. The series may have reopened the public debate, but her legal slate is clean.

How do I watch 5 Days at Memorial?

The series is an Apple TV+ original, so it is exclusive to that platform as of 2025.

Streaming on Apple TV+

  • All 8 episodes are available exclusively on Apple TV+ (IMDb (streaming info)).
  • Each episode runs 45–60 minutes (Local TV News (runtime mention)).

Availability on other platforms (Netflix, Amazon)

  • It is not available on Netflix, Hulu, or other major streaming services as of 2025 (IMDb (distribution)).
  • You can purchase or rent episodes on Amazon Prime Video or Apple iTunes (IMDb (purchase options)).

Regional accessibility

  • Apple TV+ is available in over 100 countries, but check local availability (IMDb (global release)).

Bottom line: Your only streaming option is Apple TV+, but digital purchase is available elsewhere.

Timeline of key events

  • August 29, 2005 – Hurricane Katrina makes landfall; New Orleans levees break. (Local TV News (hurricane event))
  • August 30–September 1, 2005 – Memorial Hospital floods; power fails; patients evacuated or die. (History vs. Hollywood (hospital conditions))
  • 2006 – Louisiana Attorney General charges Dr. Anna Pou and two nurses with second-degree murder (later reduced). (Knauss Law Firm (legal charges))
  • 2007 – Dr. Pou acquitted of all criminal charges; nurses’ charges dropped. (IMDb (legal outcome))
  • 2013 – Publication of Sheri Fink’s book Five Days at Memorial. (IMDb (book publication))
  • August 12, 2022 – Apple TV+ releases the series. (IMDb (series release))
  • 2023–present – Renewed public debate; Dr. Pou continues medical practice. (IMDb (current status))

What we know and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • 45 patients died at Memorial Hospital post-Katrina.
  • Dr. Pou was charged and later acquitted.
  • The series is based on Sheri Fink’s book.
  • Hurricane Katrina landfall date: August 29, 2005.

What’s unclear

  • Exact circumstances of each patient’s death – some contested.
  • Whether the series accurately reflects all facts.
  • Dr. Pou’s personal role in administering medications.
  • Long-term impact of the series on public opinion.

Voices from the controversy

“I have always maintained that I acted within the standard of care to relieve suffering. The grand jury agreed.”

– Dr. Anna Pou (statement via legal documents, as reported by History vs. Hollywood (Pou’s defense))

“The book grew out of thousands of pages of documents and interviews. The series captures the emotional truth, but the full story lies in the evidence.”

– Sheri Fink, author, quoted in History vs. Hollywood (Fink’s perspective)

“The discussion of euthanasia was more than just talk. It was a real option discussed openly by staff.”

– Dr. Bryant King, former Memorial intern, reported by History vs. Hollywood (King’s account)

“We did what we thought was right under impossible circumstances. I still believe that.”

– Anonymous nurse present at Memorial, cited in Knauss Law Firm (nurse testimony)

Editor’s note: These quotes represent only a handful of the many conflicting accounts. The full story remains elusive.

The debate over Five Days at Memorial is unlikely to end. For viewers in the United States, the choice is clear: either watch the dramatization and form your own opinion, or read the book to get the unvarnished legal evidence. For the medical community, the case remains a cautionary tale about how the justice system handles impossible choices made in a disaster zone. For the families of the 45 patients, the question of what really happened will never fully be answered.

Additional sources

memorialhospitaltruth.com

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Frequently asked questions

Is Five Days at Memorial based on a book?

Yes, it is based on Sheri Fink’s 2013 nonfiction book of the same name.

Who is Sheri Fink?

Sheri Fink is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who wrote the original 2009 New York Times Magazine article and later expanded it into the book.

What rating does Five Days at Memorial have?

The series is rated TV-MA for mature themes including death and euthanasia.

How long is each episode of Five Days at Memorial?

Episodes range from 45 to 60 minutes.

Is Five Days at Memorial suitable for children?

No, the rating TV-MA means it is intended for mature audiences.

What is the critical reception of Five Days at Memorial?

The series received generally positive reviews for its performances, but some critics questioned its balance between drama and fact.

Does the series have a second season?

No, it is a limited series with only one season of 8 episodes.

Related reading: A Friend of the Family · Women of the Movement