Welcome to Ethics Consult -- an opportunity to discuss, debate (respectfully), and learn together. We present an ethical dilemma in patient care; you vote on your decision in the case. Next week, we'll reveal how you all made the call. And stay tuned -- an ethics expert will weigh in next week with an ethical framework to help you learn and prepare.
A 71-year-old patient with an underlying heart condition arrives at the hospital with symptoms of COVID-19. He is placed in isolation in the emergency department. Test results confirm the patient has COVID-19. His condition deteriorates and he is placed on a ventilator.
During his stay in the hospital, the infection rate spikes in the city. Severely sick patients overrun the hospital capacity quickly and there aren't enough resources. Many of the patients are young, between 20-50, and otherwise healthy but still require ventilators.
Doctors, nurses, and the rest of the healthcare team are forced to decide which patients they should focus their attention and care on.
See the results and what an ethics expert has to say.
This case was inspired by an .
And check out some of our past Ethics Consult cases: Harvest Dead Man's Sperm?, Hiding Dx From Elderly Cancer Patient? MD/JD Bangs the Gavel, and Euthanize Resistant Dementia Patient?