Older patients with a low chance of survival
could have life-saving ventilators removed so the machines can be given to
healthier patients under new ethics guidelines issued by the British Medical
Association (BMA).
Ambulances are parked outside the Emergency Department of St Thomas' Hospital, one of the many hospitals dealing with coronavirus patients in London, on Wednesday, April 1. |
The
guidance has been prepared for doctors who will need to make "grave
decisions" about who should receive "scarce lifesaving
resources" if the country’s health system is overwhelmed by coronavirus
cases.
"As such, some of the most unwell patients may be denied
access to treatment such as intensive care or artificial ventilation," the
BMA’s ethics guidance note states.
"This will inevitably be indirectly discriminatory against both the elderly and those with long-term health conditions, with the latter being denied access to life-saving treatment as a result of their pre-existing health problems."
"This will inevitably be indirectly discriminatory against both the elderly and those with long-term health conditions, with the latter being denied access to life-saving treatment as a result of their pre-existing health problems."
The
guidance says
imposing an age cut-off would be illegal, but adds that older patients with
pre-existing respiratory problems would have a "very high chance of dying
despite intensive care," and are therefore lower priority for admission.
The
guidance states: "In dangerous pandemics the ethical balance of all
doctors and health care workers must shift towards the utilitarian objective of
equitable concern for all – while maintaining respect for all as 'ends in
themselves.'"
The
ethics guidance note was updated on April 1. The UK government has previously
warned the country’s health system could be overwhelmed if strict social
distancing measures are not followed. - CNN
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