Ethical challenges in the allocation of scarce resources during COVID-19 pandemic: Islamic View

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The ethical implications of scarce resources allocation are very drastic in the current COVID19 pandemic. The demand for critical care in several areas of the world like the northern region of Italy and New York were exceeding its supply. Intensive care doctors were facing overwhelming decisions about who should be provided with a ventilator, knowing the fact that those who are not admitted to the intensive care units will very likely die. Physicians have to consider the prioritization of patients who are most likely to survive over those with remote chances. This practice has triggered an immense debate about the right of everybody to access the healthcare. Many people found themselves personally affected by these implications and all of a sudden realized that the principle of “equals should be treated equally” may no longer be applicable. [1] Utilitarian principles should be the basis for such decision. The difficulty, however, arises when it is impossible to triage patients based solely on utilitarian considerations.


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