Part 1 of this panel discussion with public health law experts explores key legal issues related to triage and rationing of scarce medical resources, including supplies and personnel, during a public health emergency. Key discussion points include: The key issue
Read More
This article discusses how, unlike China and Italy, United States law requires that states be responsible for most actions taken to address outbreaks. Social distancing measures, such as so-called “safer-at-home” or “stay-at-home” orders, represent one of the most important and
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
This statement from the Joint Commission encourages healthcare facilities to allow staff to bring and use their own face masks or respirators throughout the day when the facility is unable to provide adequate access to protective equipment. The Joint Commission,
Read More
This study predicted trajectories of COVID-19 in the coming days (until April 30, 2020) around the world using an advanced Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average Model (ARIMA). The model’s predictions suggest that rapid infection control measures are urgently needed to curtail
Read More
This case series from early in the Seattle outbreak showed that the most common reasons for admission to the ICU were hypoxemic respiratory failure leading to mechanical ventilation, hypotension requiring vasopressor treatment, or both, and half of these patients died
Read More
This is a rapid sentinel surveillance study aimed to determine what proportion of mild, outpatient influenza-like illnesses were caused by SARS-CoV-2. This community-based surveillance study reports a 5% rate of COVID-19 among patients presented to the ED or urgent care
Read More
This opinion piece in the New England Journal of Medicine emphasizes a need for a coordinated approach by local and national government, the private sector, and health care providers to attain needed personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators. The authors
Read More
FDA will allow distribution of large quantities of two anti-malarial drugs from the federal Strategic National Stockpile to hospitals as a possible treatment for COVID-19, using the agency’s authority to permit use of unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of
Read More