Display Settings:

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

    Ethics of triage in the event of an influenza pandemic.

    Source

    Department of Philosophy and Division of Medical Ethics and Humanities, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA. tabery@philosophy.utah.edu

    Abstract

    The prospect of a severe influenza pandemic poses a daunting public health threat to hospitals and the public they serve. The event of a severe influenza pandemic will put hospitals under extreme stress; only so many beds, ventilators, nurses, and physicians will be available, and it is likely that more patients will require medical attention than can be completely treated. Triage is the process of sorting patients in a time of crisis to determine who receives what level of medical attention. How will hospitals sort patients to determine priority for treatment? What criteria will be used? Who will develop these criteria? This article formulates an answer to these questions by constructing a conceptual framework for anticipating and responding to the ethical issues raised by triage in the event of a severe influenza pandemic.

    PMID:
    18525374
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

      Supplemental Content

      Save items

      loading

      Recent activity

      Your browsing activity is empty.

      Activity recording is turned off.

      Turn recording back on

      See more...
      Write to the Help Desk