Who Will Die

Over 85ers and the very ill might not be on the list for those who will get care in a pandemic flu situation.

This is part of the plan – guide line - being looked at for a major disaster. This gut-wrenching dilemma will be deciding who to let die.

Now – an influential group of physicians have submitted a list of recommendations for which patients couldn’t be treated.

They include the very elderly – seriously hurt trauma victims – severely burned patients and those with severe dementia.

The idea is to make sure that scarce resources – including ventilators – medicine and doctors and nurses – are used in a uniform – objective way.

Dr. Kevin Yeskey – director of the preparedness and emergency operations office at the Department of Health and Human Services – was on the task force. He said the report would be among many the agency reviews as part of preparedness efforts.

James Bentley – a senior vice president at American Hospital Association – said the report will give guidance to hospitals in shaping their own preparedness plans - even if they don’t follow all the suggestions.

He said the proposals resemble a battlefield approach in which limited health care resources are reserved for those most likely to survive.

Bentley said that it’s not the first time this type of approach has been recommended for a catastrophic pandemic but that “this is the mot detailed one I have seen from a professional group.”

Although the notion of rationing health care is unpleasant – the report could help the public understand that it will be necessary – Bentley said.

Above taken in part from an article by Lindsey Tanner in THE ORGONIAN -5/5/08.