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Sheri Fink's "Five Days at Memorial" is a meticulously researched and gripping account of the events that unfolded at Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans during and after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The book examines the decisions made by the medical staff at the hospital in the face of catastrophic circumstances, and the ethical and moral dilemmas that arose as a result.The book is divided into three parts: "Before," "During," and "After" the hurricane. In the first section, Fink provides a detailed history of the hospital, its staff, and the patients who were there when the storm hit. The reader gets a sense of the hospital's precarious financial situation, as well as the challenges faced by the staff in caring for the large number of patients who were too sick to be evacuated. The author also sets the stage for the difficult decisions that would need to be made in the coming days.The second section of the book, "During," is the heart of the story. Fink describes in vivid detail the chaos and confusion that ensued at the hospital when the power went out and the floodwaters began to rise. The medical staff, faced with limited resources and dwindling supplies, were forced to make life-and-death decisions about which patients to evacuate and which to leave behind. The author does an excellent job of conveying the sense of urgency and desperation that the staff felt as they struggled to save as many lives as possible.Perhaps the most controversial decision made during this time was the use of morphine and other drugs to hasten the deaths of some of the hospital's sickest patients. Fink explores this issue in depth, providing multiple perspectives from doctors, nurses, and family members who were present at the hospital during the storm. The author raises important questions about the ethical and moral implications of such decisions, and leaves it up to the reader to decide whether the actions taken by the medical staff were justifiable under the circumstances.The final section of the book, "After," examines the legal and ethical fallout from the decisions made during those five days. Fink explores the criminal charges that were brought against some of the hospital staff, as well as the civil suits that were filed by the families of patients who died during the storm. The author also raises broader questions about the responsibilities of hospitals and other healthcare providers in the face of natural disasters and other emergencies.Throughout the book, Fink draws on her extensive interviews with hospital staff, patients, and family members, as well as her own experience as a journalist covering the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The author's writing is clear and concise, and she does an excellent job of bringing the events of those five days to life. She also provides important context about the political and social factors that contributed to the devastation wrought by the hurricane, and the challenges faced by the people of New Orleans in its aftermath.Overall, "Five Days at Memorial" is a powerful and thought-provoking book that raises important questions about the role of healthcare providers in times of crisis. Fink's thorough research and engaging writing make this a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of medicine, ethics, and public policy.