Case Study: Resource Allocation in a Public Health Crisis

Background: In the midst of a severe influenza outbreak, a hospital is overwhelmed with a surge of patients requiring intensive care, ventilators, and other critical resources. The hospital's healthcare management team faces a challenging ethical dilemma regarding the fair allocation of limited resources to maximize the number of lives saved.

Dr. Rodriguez (Chief Medical Officer) Sarah Mitchell (Hospital Administrator) Nursing Director Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Physicians and Nurses

Ethical Dilemma: The hospital has a limited number of ventilators, ICU beds, and medical staff, and the demand far exceeds the available resources. The healthcare management team is forced to make difficult decisions about how to allocate resources to patients. Dr. Rodriguez is advocating for prioritizing patients with the highest chance of survival, while Sarah Mitchell is concerned about potential discrimination against vulnerable populations and the need to consider social justice principles in resource allocation.

Discussion Points: Explore the concept of distributive justice in healthcare and the ethical challenges associated with allocating scarce resources in a fair and equitable manner. Discuss the role of transparency in healthcare management during a crisis, including the potential impact on public trust and staff morale. Examine the ethical considerations related to prioritizing patients based on factors such as age, comorbidities, and potential for survival.

Assignment: Students are tasked with: Analyzing the ethical issues in the case, considering the principles of distributive justice, transparency, and equity. Developing a resource allocation plan that balances the competing ethical considerations. Discussing strategies for maintaining public trust and staff morale during a healthcare crisis with limited resources.