Founded as a hospital for the poor, Charity Hospital began in 1736 as just a small cottage built on the goodwill of a dying French merchant. Ran by the nuns of the Daughters of Charity and serving the city of New Orleans for close to 300 years, it gradually transformed into an enormous public institution – into Big Charity – and a longstanding symbol of compassion, a seemingly eternal place of safety and a beacon of hope in the community. Today the towering art deco building, closed abruptly after Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005, stands empty, and the community continues to suffer devastating consequences from its absence.
This documentary film includes never-before-seen footage and exclusive interviews to tell the story of Charity Hospital, from its roots to its controversial closing in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. From the firsthand accounts of healthcare providers and hospital employees who withstood the storm inside the hospital, to interviews with key players involved in the closing of Charity, Big Charity shares the untold, true story around its demise and sheds new light on the sacrifices made for the sake of progress.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/realstoriesdocs
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/RealStoriesChannel
Instagram – @realstoriesdocs
Subscribe to Real Stories Shorts for bitesize documentary content: shorturl.at/dAKT3
Content licensed from [Passion River]. Any queries, please contact us at: owned-enquiries@littledotstudios.com
If you loved this film, Real Stories has hundreds more full-length documentaries, click the link to enjoy: http://bit.ly/1GOzpIu
** (Disclaimer: This video content is intended for educational and informational purposes only) **
Born in New Orleans at Hotel Dieu, but as soon as I was 18, I left for good. This story is a perfect example of why. I'm a retired RN from a saner state. I realized early on that Louisiana is full of sleazy crooked politicians, including the LSU system. Pathetic and criminal.
This documentary brought literal tears to my eyes. The determination of the doctors and nurses to help ppl with minimal resources to help them was inspiring and showed the tenacity of their hearts. May God bless them and their patients. It must have been tiring moving from building to building smh
Absolutely despicable that Tulane staff allowed dying patients to be left on the ramp as they took priority for helicopters. Doesn’t matter who was footing the bill. I hope they feel shame every time they look in the mirror.
If ur dont understand what's happening new Orleans politicians after seeing the building was clean in completely use able but they retrashed floaded it in locked up to mk it look condemned so they could get fema to pay for a new hospital they wanted to build pryer to the storm but couldn't afford the cost of a new fancy 444 mil hospital thats staffed by lsu medical students learning to be doctors on people from a lower class. The build it in historical neighborhood to seem lik there in decent part of town bc the prettier part of low class areas is the historical part
I don't understand y the city wanted to build a new hospital when they have one fully functional ud think they would jump on the opportunity to not spend money on something they dont need cuz they have perfectly good one. Besides there are multiple hospitals for upper class people in new Orleans they don't need another one .
They shouldn't lied in said it was condemned they should told them the plan for new hospital
Im from Louisiana and its hot here in the heat is worse during a storm especially if ur trapped in build with no air conditioner and no windows an add critical ill to that its a nightmare
One last….isn't that new hospital pathetically ugly? Nothing is more soul-grinding than giant mirrored boxes. They have vague and confusing layouts. People who went to old fashioned hospital buildings had a very down-to-earth layout. Instead of everything being on one huge circle where you have to lay out a strink of breadcrumbs just to figure where you were and where you want to go, or else have a compass or an ability to see the sun so you can get a sense of direction, they just try to be as bland and confusing as possible. It's like DEI in terms of design. Being practical is no good because it wouldn't be fair to people who aren't practical, so they aren't. No one wants to be the best either, because that's not equitable. Make everything as equally crappy as possible.
You want something done efficiently and well? You get the Germans to do it. (German fire brigade story). No wonder they almost whipped everybody's butts….
The Dr. Lutz at 38:08 answered the question in my head. I was wondering if squatters/ homeless/ displaced people had taken over the facility. I guess not seeing how it's conveniently locked down.
The Fact That They literally TORE DOWN People's Houses to Build A New Hospital When They Could Have Just Used That Money To Renovate The Old One Is SICKENING
I have watched this 3 times. Each time it angers me more and more.
This is heartbreaking! Government is so corrupt and the people who were in control of Charity , and LSU should be held accountable! Even 19 years later!
16 minutes in and I can’t stop crying. The government and the other 49 states failed them. I was 8 when this happen so I only remember my gma watching stories on the news. If this was to ever happen again I would have to go help.
The word charity means love. How sad.
Charity had the best of the best. Saved my mother’s life after a fatal car accident. ❤
President Trump needs to see this.
I was born at Charity Hospital in 1968. Every time I pass it, it saddens me – like the death of a beloved grandmother. 😢
The whole thing is a disgrace and our government should be held responsible. President Bush sat back and did nothing So tragic
Heroes yall!
This breaks my heart! I did field studies in chaplaincy at Charity Hospital as a student at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary back in the 80s. So much good work was done in that hospital!
It would have been nice to tell some truths 😂 Charity Hospital in its heyday allowed white staff and visitors in the front doors while the people of color, staff and visitors were admitted in the back. During the 1960s the only people of color (nurses chosen) were Creole women, and only those who you would consider passing. So it’s interesting to see all these very darkskin black people talking about Charity Hospital.
In the name of money people die! Big corporations need more money, the dont care about a whole community! SAD