Ethics

According to this article U.K. health officials have decided not to release triage criteria for allocating scarce resources in response to COVID-19, even though the guidance had already been drafted and other pandemic response guidelines that include rationing scarce resources Read More

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb issued Executive Order 20-18 extending and clarifying the state stay-at-home order, including establishing an enforcement team for noncompliance. The Hastings Center has offered an expert-crafted guidance document for journalists, policymakers, and educators discussing the ethics of Read More

This article reports on guidelines released by Northwell Health, one of New York state’s largest hospital systems, outlining institutional processes for allocating ventilators toward patients most likely to benefit should the need arise due to resource scarcity. According to the Read More

This analysis from experts on the ethics of pandemic drug and vaccine research raises significant concerns about promoting the use of unproven off-label uses drugs as part of COVID-19 response efforts. While acknowledging there is limited evidence for its effectiveness, Read More

This guidance from the British Medical Association (BMA) addresses ethical issues in allocating scarce life-saving medical resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, building on an ethical framework most recently revised in 2017 and providing updated guidance specific to COVID-19. The guidance Read More

Part 2 of this panel discussion with law and bioethics experts focuses on the intersection of disability rights and the rationing medical resources. Key discussion points include: Existing federal laws protect the rights of persons with disabilities, including the Affordable Read More

This rapid expert consultation explains the key principles, elements, and messages for Crisis Standards of Care (CSC) decision-making, emphasizing the key distinction of moving from a focus on the individual patient to what is best for an entire group of Read More

This forthcoming article argues that basing resource allocation or triage decisions on a person’s pre-existing disability violates provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act, and the Affordable Care Act.   These federal laws prohibit discrimination against Read More

Multiple states (including TX, RI, MA, FL) have adopted policies restricting travel into their states from outbreak hot spots. While Texas has not yet adopted a state-wide shelter-in-place policy, they have established a policy ordering a 14-day self-quarantine for any Read More

The authors of this Hastings Center Report explain how ethical and legal duties intersect with public health in a time of crisis. When the health system can no longer handle the needs of all persons seeking care, ethical and legal Read More