TY - JOUR
T1 - Ethical triage during the COVID-19 pandemic
T2 - a toolkit for neurosurgical resource allocation
AU - Hulsbergen, Alexander F.C.
AU - Eijkholt, Marleen M.
AU - Balak, Naci
AU - Brennum, Jannick
AU - Bolger, Ciarán
AU - Bohrer, Anna Margarete
AU - Feldman, Zeev
AU - Holsgrove, Daniel
AU - Kitchen, Neil
AU - Mathiesen, Tiit I.
AU - Moojen, Wouter A.
AU - Samprón, Nicolás
AU - Sames, Martin
AU - Sandvik, Ulrika
AU - Tisell, Magnus
AU - Broekman, Marike L.D.
PY - 2020/7
Y1 - 2020/7
N2 - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic confronts healthcare workers, including neurosurgeons, with difficult choices regarding which patients to treat. Methods: In order to assist ethical triage, this article gives an overview of the main considerations and ethical principles relevant when allocating resources in times of scarcity. Results: We discuss a framework employing four principles: prioritizing the worst off, maximizing benefits, treating patients equally, and promoting instrumental value. We furthermore discuss the role of age and comorbidity in triage and highlight some principles that may seem intuitive but should not form a basis for triage. Conclusions: This overview is presented on behalf of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies and can be used as a toolkit for neurosurgeons faced with ethical dilemmas when triaging patients in times of scarcity.
AB - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic confronts healthcare workers, including neurosurgeons, with difficult choices regarding which patients to treat. Methods: In order to assist ethical triage, this article gives an overview of the main considerations and ethical principles relevant when allocating resources in times of scarcity. Results: We discuss a framework employing four principles: prioritizing the worst off, maximizing benefits, treating patients equally, and promoting instrumental value. We furthermore discuss the role of age and comorbidity in triage and highlight some principles that may seem intuitive but should not form a basis for triage. Conclusions: This overview is presented on behalf of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies and can be used as a toolkit for neurosurgeons faced with ethical dilemmas when triaging patients in times of scarcity.
KW - Covid-19
KW - Ethics
KW - Neurosurgery
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - Triage
U2 - 10.1007/s00701-020-04375-w
DO - 10.1007/s00701-020-04375-w
M3 - Review
C2 - 32405671
AN - SCOPUS:85084593657
SN - 0001-6268
VL - 162
SP - 1485
EP - 1490
JO - Acta Neurochirurgica
JF - Acta Neurochirurgica
ER -