What if Two COVID-19 Victims Need Ventilators and Just One Is Available?

What if Two COVID-19 Victims Need Ventilators and Just One Is Available?

4 years ago
Anonymous $9CO2RSACsf

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/what-if-two-covid-19-victims-need-ventilators-and-just-one-is-available/

A 12-year-old patient and a 78-year-old patient have COVID-19. Both require mechanical ventilation, but only one ventilator is available. The older patient is an infectious disease physician who has experience treating patients with COVID-19, and his research is in COVID-19 vaccine development. Who should get the ventilator?  

As the number of COVID-19 infections continue to rise, health care providers may soon be asked to consider the question posed in the case above. As pediatric cardiologists and bioethicists who practice in the United States and care for sick children on a daily basis, we have not yet had to grapple with decision-making when resources are limited.