Top

Published in:

Open Access 01-12-2020 | COVID-19 | Letter

COVID-19—immunity from prosecution for physicians forced to allocate scarce resources: the Italian perspective

Authors: Marco Ricci, Pasquale Gallina

Published in: Critical Care | Issue 1/2020

Excerpt

In times of COVID-19, it may happen that the diagnostic-therapeutic standard in a given clinical situation cannot be guaranteed [1]. This may mean denying a patient treatment because it is not available, because the only available treatment is deemed necessary for another patient, or the extreme case of having to take it away from one subject to give it to another. These decisions are made by the doctor, who in countries such as Italy, where prosecution is mandatory (Constitution art.112), will incur criminal liability. …

Vergano M, Bertolini G, Giannini A, Gristina GR, Livigni S, Mistraletti G, Riccioni L, et al. Clinical ethics recommendations for the allocation of intensive care treatments in exceptional, resource-limited circumstances: the Italian perspective during the COVID-19 epidemic. Crit Care. 2020;24:165.CrossRef

Cohen IG, Crespo AM, White DB. Potential legal liability for withdrawing or withholding ventilators during COVID-19: assessing the risks and identifying needed reforms. JAMA. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.5442.

The Italian penal code, art. 54. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&ved=2ahUKEwjT2u_jxvnoAhW9aRUIHbV6CgAQFjAEegQIAhAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.diritto24.ilsole24ore.com%2FguidaAlDiritto%2Fcodici%2FcodicePenale%2Farticolo%2F67%2Fart-54-stato-di-necessita.html&usg=AOvVaw0KxN5OFVwqzDK_fzXk-Zku.

Clinical ethics recommendations for the allocation of intensive care treatments in exceptional, resource-limited circumstances. 2020. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwigk-nHyvnoAhXMo4sKHeEbCYQQFjAAegQIARAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.siaarti.it%2FSiteAssets%2FNews%2FCOVID19%2520-%2520documenti%2520SIAARTI%2FSIAARTI%2520-%2520Covid-19%2520-%2520Clinical%2520Ethics%2520Reccomendations.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0lAi8uYc8qNBl2BF9AygoH.5.

La Repubblica. 2020. Trivulzio, iniziate le audizioni sulle morti degli anziani. Un'infermiera: “Qui si continua a morire, i trasferimenti non sono finiti”. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwjXgYzUyPnoAhUupIsKHQRPBQsQFjAAegQIAxAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmilano.repubblica.it%2Fcronaca%2F2020%2F04%2F20%2Fnews%2Fcorona_virus_milano_trivulzio-254510326%2F&usg=AOvVaw0YJoB5mlziPNrunRqadyPA.

Title: COVID-19—immunity from prosecution for physicians forced to allocate scarce resources: the Italian perspective
Authors: Marco Ricci
Pasquale Gallina
Publication date: 01-12-2020
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keyword: COVID-19
Published in: Critical Care / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1364-8535
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-020-03028-9

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

COVID-19—immunity from prosecution for physicians forced to allocate scarce resources: the Italian perspective

Excerpt

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Excerpt

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2020

Comment on “Vasoplegic syndrome following cardiothoracic surgery-review of pathophysiology and update of treatment options”

Psychological stress of ICU nurses in the time of COVID-19

Single ventilator for multiple patients during COVID19 surge: matching and balancing patients

Iodinated contrast medium: Is there a re(n)al problem? A clinical vignette-based review

Immune biomarker-based enrichment in sepsis trials

COVID-19 pneumonia: ARDS or not?