Palliating a pandemic: "all patients must be cared for"

James Downar, Dori Seccareccia, Associated Medical Services Inc. Educational Fellows in Care at the End of Life, Donald Farquar, Valerie Schulz, Chris Frank, Alison Dugan, Khadija Bimji, Punginathn Dorasamy, Hershl Berman, Alexandra Easson, James Downar, Joseph Mikhael, James Downar, Dori Seccareccia, Associated Medical Services Inc. Educational Fellows in Care at the End of Life, Donald Farquar, Valerie Schulz, Chris Frank, Alison Dugan, Khadija Bimji, Punginathn Dorasamy, Hershl Berman, Alexandra Easson, James Downar, Joseph Mikhael

Abstract

In the event of an overwhelming influenza pandemic, many health care systems will implement a triage system that would potentially deny critical care treatment to some seriously ill patients. Although all triage systems have guaranteed palliative care for those who are denied critical care, no jurisdiction has yet developed a plan to accommodate the anticipated "surge" in demand for palliative care. The authors present a mathematical and ethical justification for a palliative care surge plan and outline some of the key elements that should be included in such a plan.

Copyright 2010 U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Source: PubMed

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