Member-only story
We are in the midst of a worldwide pandemic due to COVIDS-19.
Numbers (of cases and deaths) are increasing daily.
As of the date of this writing (4/1/20), there are some 900,000 reported cases and 45,000 reported deaths in close to 200 countries. In the USA, there have been some 200,000 cases. The number of deaths (4000) has exceeded the number of Americans who perished on 9/11/01.
One key concern, particularly amongst healthcare professionals in various countries, has been the shortage of PPE (personal protection equipment), including masks (also gowns, goggles and gloves) and ventilators, such that, in some places, such as Italy, the USA and other similar countries (and some states), decisions have to be made as to who lives and who dies. There simply are not enough ventilators.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/business/coronavirus-ventilator-shortage.html
Regardless the reasons for shortage (many aspersions could be cast; unlike ventilators, there’s plenty to go around), that’s what faces more states and countries than we care to mention.
Ideally, those triage type decisions are made by someone other than those involved in direct patient care. Various ethicists seem to agree on this.
