• Acta neurochirurgica · Jul 2020

    Review

    Ethical triage during the COVID-19 pandemic: a toolkit for neurosurgical resource allocation.

    • Alexander F C Hulsbergen, Marleen M Eijkholt, Naci Balak, Jannick Brennum, Ciarán Bolger, Anna-Margarete Bohrer, Zeev Feldman, Daniel Holsgrove, Neil Kitchen, Tiit I Mathiesen, Wouter A Moojen, Nicolás Samprón, Martin Sames, Ulrika Sandvik, Magnus Tisell, and BroekmanMarike L DMLDEthics Committee of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies, Brussels, Belgium. m.broekman@haaglandenmc.nl.Departments of Neurosurgery, Haaglanden Medical Center and Leiden University Medical Center, Lijnbaan 32, 2512, VA,.
    • Ethics Committee of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies, Brussels, Belgium. a.f.c.hulsbergen@students.uu.nl.
    • Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2020 Jul 1; 162 (7): 1485-1490.

    BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic confronts healthcare workers, including neurosurgeons, with difficult choices regarding which patients to treat.MethodsIn 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.ResultsWe 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.ConclusionsThis 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.

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