Resource Allocation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Contributions to an Ethical Approach

Margarida Sobral; Bárbara Santa Rosa; Margarida Silvestre

doi:10.20344/amp.16142

Resource Allocation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Contributions to an Ethical Approach

Authors

Margarida Sobral Institute of Bioethics. Faculty of Medicine. University of Coimbra. Coimbra. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0452-0495
Bárbara Santa Rosa Institute of Bioethics. Faculty of Medicine. University of Coimbra. Coimbra. National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, North branch. Porto.
Margarida Silvestre Institute of Bioethics. Faculty of Medicine. University of Coimbra. Coimbra. Reproductive Medicine Department. Coimbra Hospital and University Centre. Coimbra. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0659-9435

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.16142

Keywords:

COVID-19, Ethics, Pandemics, Resource Allocation, SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought dramatic worldwide consequences affecting social, economic and healthcare systems. Considering that the number of infected patients requiring admission to intensive care units far exceeded the available resources, healthcare professionals have had to face challenging decisions concerning who should benefit from the limited resources and who should not. In this context, after a careful ethical reflection, we propose some principles to be adopted when dealing with allocation resource decisions, based on core ethical values. Ideally, these strategies should be established and integrated into institutional policies before a crisis scenario, in order to anticipate a potential new public health emergency and prevent possible tragic consequences.

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Published

2021-06-30

How to Cite

Sobral M, Santa Rosa B, Silvestre M. Resource Allocation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Contributions to an Ethical Approach. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2021 Jun. 30 [cited 2024 Dec. 22];34(7-8):558-61. Available from: https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/16142

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Issue

Vol. 34 No. 7-8 (2021): July-August

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