Ethics in the use of prognostic scores in intensive care units: an integrative review

Abstract

Facing COVID-19 caused many problems in the healthcare field, due to the rise in the intensive care demand. To solve this crisis, caused by the scarcity of resources of high complexity, decision-making has been guided by prognostic scores; however, this process includes a moral dimension, although less evident. With na integrative review, this article sought to reflect on the reasonability of using severity indicators to define the allocation of the scarce resources in healthcare. We observed that the work carried out on resource scarcity situations causes moral overload, converging to the search for standard and objective solutions, such as the use of prognostic scores. We conclude that their isolated and indiscriminate use is not ethically acceptable and deserves cautious evaluation, even in emergency situations, such as COVID-19.