Imagine you are a clinical officer in a small, remote hospital during a severe flu outbreak. The hospital is overwhelmed, and resources are scarce. You are in charge of triage in the emergency department. There are three patients who urgently need a single available ventilator to survive the night until more resources can be allocated in the morning.
Patient A is a 30-year-old pregnant woman in her third trimester. She has a severe case of the flu and is experiencing difficulty breathing. The fetus is viable and healthy based on the latest checkups.
Patient B is a 75-year-old retired physician and a well-known community volunteer with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He is respected and loved in the community. He has contracted the flu and is in critical condition.
Patient C is a 45-year-old single parent of three young children. They have no significant past medical history but have developed severe respiratory complications from the flu. They are the sole caregiver and provider for their children.
Instructions for the Interviewee:
You must decide which patient receives the ventilator. Consider the ethical principles of medicine, including beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and autonomy in your decision-making process. Explain your decision based on these principles.
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