I Felt Good About This

There were two news reports last night that pleased me greatly: Ward Churchill was fired, and the doctor who faced up to an impossible situation during Katrina was treated with compassion by the community. I suppose not everyone will agree.

Colorado Prof Fired After 9-11 Remarks
By DAN ELLIOTT
Associated Press Writer
July 24, 2007, 9:34 PM EDT (Excerpt)

BOULDER, Colo. -- The University of Colorado's governing board on Tuesday fired a professor whose essay likening some Sept. 11 victims to a Nazi leader provoked national outrage and led to an investigation of research misconduct.

Ward Churchill, who had vowed to sue if the Board of Regents took action against him, said immediately after the 8-1 vote was announced: "New game, new game."

Three faculty committees had accused Churchill of plagiarism, falsification and other misconduct. The research allegations stem from some of Churchill's other writings, although the investigation began after the controversy over his Sept. 11 essay.

No Indictment in Katrina Hospital Deaths
By MARY FOSTER
Associated Press Writer
July 24, 2007, 9:33 PM EDT (Excerpt)

NEW ORLEANS -- A grand jury refused on Tuesday to indict a doctor accused of murdering four seriously ill hospital patients with drug injections during the desperate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, closing the books on the only mercy-killing case to emerge from the storm.

Dr. Anna Pou acknowledged administering medication to the patients but insisted she did so only to relieve pain.

Pou (pronounced "Poe") and two nurses were arrested last summer after Attorney General Charles Foti concluded they gave "lethal cocktails" to four patients at the flooded-out, sweltering Memorial Medical Center after the August 2005 storm.