Doctors should let accident victims die during a pandemic
An influential group of US physicians has drafted a list of patients who, during a pandemic, should not be treated. They include the very elderly, seriously hurt trauma victims, severely burned patients and those with severe dementia
The suggested list was compiled by a task force whose members come from prestigious US universities, medical groups, the military and government agencies. They include the Department of Homeland Security, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services.
The proposed guidelines are designed to be a blueprint for hospitals "so that everybody will be thinking in the same way" when pandemic flu or another widespread health care disaster hits, said Dr. Asha Devereaux. She is a critical care specialist in San Diego and lead writer of the task force report. See Articles
