Is shortening the response-to-treatment waiting time appropriate during the Covid-19 pandemic?

Abstract

Covid-19 is causing a catastrophic sanitary problem worldwide. Many countries find themselves in the midst of this sanitary problem, while others will soon be facing the same fate. The Covid-19 pandemic public health goal should not only be to protect the life of a few patients, but also to save the lives of as many patients as possible (Berlinger et al., 2020). If it were possible to save everyone, the duty would be straightforward and simply thatto save everyone. However, as we reach the peak of the pandemic, this may not be possible. That is why, utilizing all the means available (SEMICYUC, 2020), the duty is to save the life of as many patients as possible (Emanuel et al., 2020). There are many ethical dilemmas that have come out of the Covid-19 pandemic. The discussion about what the ethical parameters for medical decision-making should be is still open for consideration. Specifically, a few clinical strategies that consider the intrinsic dignity of the human person requires further elucidation. The aim of this paper, during Covid-19 pandemic's peak, is to consider whether it is appropriate to limit therapeutic efforts, knowing that the staying time in intense care units (ICUs) for patients with Covid-19 is significantly longer and that mortality rates are higher especially for those who do not demonstrate signs of improvement.