CPR in the COVID-19 Era — An Ethical Framework

Bottom Line: With an increasing number of COVID-19 cases, the typical assumptions regarding the provision of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are challenged. This article summarizes the underlying issues and proposes an ethical framework with recommendations for crisis standards of patient care. Reference: Kramer D.B., Lo B. & Dickert N.W. CPR in the Covid-19 Era—An Ethical Framework. …

CPR in the Covid-19 Era — An Ethical Framework

Bottom Line: With an increasing number of COVID-19 cases, the typical assumptions regarding the provision of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are challenged. This article summarizes the underlying issues and proposes an ethical framework with recommendations for crisis standards of patient care. Reference: Kramer, D.B., Lo, B. & Dickert, N.W. CPR in the Covid-19 Era—An Ethical Framework. New …

The Equitable Distribution of COVID-19 Therapeutics and Vaccines

Bottom Line: Future relief from COVID-19 should be provided in a equitable manner through the collaboration of world powers. Reference: Bollyky, T.J., Gostin, L.O. & Hamburg, M.A. The Equitable Distribution of COVID-19 Therapeutics and Vaccines. JAMA (2020). DOI: 10.1001/jama.2020.6641 Date: 7 May 2020 Synopsis: Currently, there are several vaccine candidates for COVID-19 in trials and …

Facing Covid-19 in Italy: Ethics, Logistics, and Therapeutics on the Epidemic’s Front Line

Bottom Line: In Italy, resource scarcity in hospitals resulted in an ethical dilemma of deciding which patient gets access to the limited number of ventilators. The article discusses important process--related principles when approaching resource scarcity and highlights the importance of transparency and inclusivity in patient care. Reference: Rosenbaum, L. Facing Covid-19 in Italy—ethics, logistics, and …

Hydroxychloroquine: A Potential Ethical Dilemma for Rheumatologists during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Bottom Line: Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are two antimalarial drugs commonly used in  the treatment of rheumatic diseases. However, these medications have recently attracted media attention with the idea that these drugs may play a role in the management of COVID-19. This creates an ethical dilemma involving resource scarcity and resource allocation away from routine rheumatology …

The ethics and science behind the COVID-19 social distancing interventions

Bottom Line: The scientific and ethical basis for quarantine and social distancing are multifaceted, and their effectiveness depends on the credibility of  public health authorities, as well as the transparency of political leaders and institutions. Reference: Lewnard, J.A. & Nathan, C.L. Scientific and ethical basis for social-distancing interventions against COVID-19. The Lancet. Infectious diseases (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30190-0 Date …

Allocation of scarce medical resources during the COVID-19 pandemic

Bottom Line: In a time of resource scarcity, the following six recommendations should be used to develop guidelines that can lead to optimal and equal treatment of individuals at risk: maximizing benefits, PPE priority to frontline workers, random selection, prioritization of populations at risk, prioritization of participants in clinical trials, and fair allocation of resources …

What are the guiding principles being discussed regarding prioritization of limited resources to younger patients?

Bottom Line: Principles guiding prioritization of limited resources to younger patients during the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed.  Reference: Archard, D. & Caplan, A. Is it wrong to prioritize younger patients with covid-19? BMJ (2020). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1509 Date Published:  22 April 2020  Synopsis: The principles guiding resource reallocation have been recently brought to public attention by the …