Our modern societies have chosen to develop medical systems in which only a limited amount of resources - such as nurses and physicians, treatment, equipment, and money - are available. In the current COVID-19 pandemic, the limitations in our medical resources as a nation and globally have become increasingly apparent, as we hear about shortages of essential equipment for patients and providers such as surgical and N95 masks, beds, and ventilators. As such, determining the allocation of medical resources has become a pressing topic for all.
This episode provides a framework that incorporates basic principles of medical ethics (autonomy, justice, beneficence, and nonmaleficence) and guides decision-making regarding resource allocation (i.e. “rationing”).
Episode credits:
Content Development:Harvard Medical Student COVID-19 Curriculum
Narration: Kanchi Mehta
Script Preparation: Kanchi Mehta
Editing: Kanchi Mehta
Modified with Permission from the Harvard Medical Student COVID-19 Curriculum
Original Content Authors: James Agolia, Michelle Bayefsky, Maheetha Bharadwaj, Samuel Doernberg, Melody Huang, Margaret Irwin, Bina Kassamali, Katie Kester, Benjamin Landwersiek, Sun Fletcher, Soumyaa Mazumder, Niyi Odewade, Larisa Shagabayeva, Derek Soled, Sanjana Srinivasan, Maria Thomas, Allen Zhou, Angela Zou
Original Content Editor: Derek Soled, MSc
Original Content Reviewers: Edward Hundert, MD; David S. Jones, MD, PhD; Louise King, MD, JD; Christine Mitchell, RN, MS, MTS, FAAN; Robert D. Truog, MD; David Urion, MD; Matthew Baum, PhD, DPhil; Pamela Chen; Rahul Nayak, MD; Sophia Yin
