Ethics

This expert commentary addresses two key ethical issues facing healthcare professionals providing frontline care during the COVID-19 pandemic: allocation of scarce lifesaving resources and whether to respond despite risks involved. Regarding allocation of scarce resources, the article emphasizes first the Read More

This article reports on the absence of a state plan for allocating scarce resources during a public health emergency in Florida and the implications of a patchwork of approaches should rationing be necessary in response to COVID-19 case surge. According Read More

This article reports on a surge in demand and scarcity of supply for dialysis machines in New York hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients.   Most scarce resource allocation concerns regarding COVID-19 to date have focused on ventilators due to the Read More

This forthcoming article comprehensively reviews existing state crisis standards of care (CSC) guidelines based on guidance from the 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report and 2014 CHEST consensus statement. The authors conclude that 5 state plans include all 5 key Read More

This blog from the Petrie-Flom Center’s Bill of Health argues that many state guidelines for the rationing of scarce resources during a public health emergency disadvantage and devalue the lives of persons with disabilities. Most scarce resource allocation guidelines prioritize Read More

This press release summarizes findings from a report generated by a team of economists that advances a reserve system approach to incorporating competing ethical principles for rationing scarce resources in response to a public health emergency. Most resource allocation guidelines Read More

This article reports on a recent Boston city council meeting at which councilors urged local hospitals and health authorities that may be forced to allocate scarce critical care resources to consider the impact of systemic racism on the prevalence of Read More

This forthcoming report (currently in pre-proof) from an expert panel of the Task Force for Mass Critical Care and the American College of Chest Physicians discusses the operational steps necessary for preparation and implementation of a triage system to allocate Read More

This op-ed argues that prioritizing patients based on who is most likely to benefit, the most commonly used approach to rationing scarce resources, inherently disadvantages groups who already experience worse health due to historical and structural factors. Rationing crucial resources Read More

This forthcoming article assesses challenges for rural communities and rural hospitals, which often face limitations and disparities in health care workforce and resources, in responding to COVID-19 and potential scarcity of critical care resources.  Rural communities include 20% of the Read More