It is hard to imagine a topic more sensitive, and a situation more difficult, than deciding who gets to live and die in the time of a pandemic.
Yet this is the reality of the COVID-19 outbreak and the resource shortage it has caused. In particular, the insufficient number of ventilators very quickly came to the world’s attention, as highlighted by physicians and hospital managers from across the world, including Italy, India, and the United States.
Due to the lack of critical care resources, healthcare professionals, patients, and families around the world must live with the consequences of withdrawing life support from one person for the benefit of another.