Death Toll by Katrina, err, Malfeasance

Interesting estimate of the death toll related to Katrina; that is, excess deaths, not deaths directly caused by the Hurricane. The number: 4000+ excess deaths estimated by a doctor in Now Orleans.

Some horrendous quotes:

The number of doctors has been reduced by 70% and the number of hospital beds in Orleans Parish has been reduced by 75%.

What makes this figure all the more shocking is that the population of New Orleans is about 1/2 of what it was before the storm - from 450,000 pre-Katrina to 230,000 post-Katrina. That over 2,000 excess deaths should be reported in a population that has already been reduced by 50% is amazing. Thanks to Ezra Boyd of Louisiana State University for sending me this information.