Ethical Issues in Decision-making Regarding the Elderly Affected by Coronavirus Disease 2019: An Expert Opinion
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is resulting in ethical decisions regarding resource allocation. Prioritisation reflects established practices that regulate the distribution of finite resources when demand exceeds supply. However, discrimination based on sex, race or age has no role...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Radcliffe Medical Media
2020-05-01
|
| Series: | European Cardiology Review |
| Online Access: | https://www.ecrjournal.com/articleindex/ecr.2020.14 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846122486456909824 |
|---|---|
| author | David Martínez-Sellés Helena Martínez-Sellés Manuel Martínez-Sellés |
| author_facet | David Martínez-Sellés Helena Martínez-Sellés Manuel Martínez-Sellés |
| author_sort | David Martínez-Sellés |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is resulting in ethical decisions regarding resource allocation. Prioritisation reflects established practices that regulate the distribution of finite resources when demand exceeds supply. However, discrimination based on sex, race or age has no role in prioritisation unless clearly justified. The risk posed by COVID-19 is higher for elderly people than for younger people, so older adults should be prioritised in preventive measures. In the case of people who already have COVID-19, healthcare professionals might prioritise those most likely to survive. Making decisions based on chronological age alone is not justified; in addition to age, other aspects that determine theoretical life expectancy must be taken into account. Individualised correct prioritisation in the allocation of scarce resources is essential to good clinical practice. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ac9ba5ca43e7402ba06b4513781c7bc9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1758-3756 1758-3764 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | Radcliffe Medical Media |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Cardiology Review |
| spelling | doaj-art-ac9ba5ca43e7402ba06b4513781c7bc92024-12-14T16:01:58ZengRadcliffe Medical MediaEuropean Cardiology Review1758-37561758-37642020-05-011510.15420/ecr.2020.14Ethical Issues in Decision-making Regarding the Elderly Affected by Coronavirus Disease 2019: An Expert OpinionDavid Martínez-Sellés0Helena Martínez-Sellés1Manuel Martínez-Sellés2School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainSchool of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, SpainSchool of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Cardiology Department, Gregorio Marañón University Hospital, CIBERCV, European University of Madrid, Madrid, SpainThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is resulting in ethical decisions regarding resource allocation. Prioritisation reflects established practices that regulate the distribution of finite resources when demand exceeds supply. However, discrimination based on sex, race or age has no role in prioritisation unless clearly justified. The risk posed by COVID-19 is higher for elderly people than for younger people, so older adults should be prioritised in preventive measures. In the case of people who already have COVID-19, healthcare professionals might prioritise those most likely to survive. Making decisions based on chronological age alone is not justified; in addition to age, other aspects that determine theoretical life expectancy must be taken into account. Individualised correct prioritisation in the allocation of scarce resources is essential to good clinical practice.https://www.ecrjournal.com/articleindex/ecr.2020.14 |
| spellingShingle | David Martínez-Sellés Helena Martínez-Sellés Manuel Martínez-Sellés Ethical Issues in Decision-making Regarding the Elderly Affected by Coronavirus Disease 2019: An Expert Opinion European Cardiology Review |
| title | Ethical Issues in Decision-making Regarding the Elderly Affected by Coronavirus Disease 2019: An Expert Opinion |
| title_full | Ethical Issues in Decision-making Regarding the Elderly Affected by Coronavirus Disease 2019: An Expert Opinion |
| title_fullStr | Ethical Issues in Decision-making Regarding the Elderly Affected by Coronavirus Disease 2019: An Expert Opinion |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ethical Issues in Decision-making Regarding the Elderly Affected by Coronavirus Disease 2019: An Expert Opinion |
| title_short | Ethical Issues in Decision-making Regarding the Elderly Affected by Coronavirus Disease 2019: An Expert Opinion |
| title_sort | ethical issues in decision making regarding the elderly affected by coronavirus disease 2019 an expert opinion |
| url | https://www.ecrjournal.com/articleindex/ecr.2020.14 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT davidmartinezselles ethicalissuesindecisionmakingregardingtheelderlyaffectedbycoronavirusdisease2019anexpertopinion AT helenamartinezselles ethicalissuesindecisionmakingregardingtheelderlyaffectedbycoronavirusdisease2019anexpertopinion AT manuelmartinezselles ethicalissuesindecisionmakingregardingtheelderlyaffectedbycoronavirusdisease2019anexpertopinion |