The New Orleans DA’s office drops all charges against the two nurses, but Dr. Pou’s fate still hangs in the balance. By Kevin B. O’Reilly, AMNews staff. July 23/30, 2007

Two nurses accused last year of conspiring to murder four hospital patients in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 could be forced to testify against their alleged physician co-conspirator, Anna Maria Pou, MD, in front of a grand jury.

New Orleans authorities offered not to charge the nurses, Cheri Landry and Lori Budo, in exchange for testimony. When they refused, Orleans Parish Assistant District Attorney Michael Morales filed a motion to compel their testimony, The Times-Picayune reported. The nurses unsuccessfully fought the motion in the Louisiana Supreme Court. Lawyers for the nurses said the women are reluctant to testify because authorities still could indict them based on other evidence, though Morales has formally dropped the charges.