With a surge in infections from Covid-19 in Switzerland, where 6,592 new cases were reported yesterday, we are talking about the medical protocol to deal with any overcrowding of intensive care.
The rules state that in the event of a shortage of places, the doctor may decide not to accept "people who are over 85 years of age" and people over 75 who have one of these diseases: "liver cirrhosis" , chronic renal failure stage III, heart failure of NYHA class greater than 1 and estimated survival less than 24 months ".
Entitled 'Covid-19 Pandemic: triage of intensive care treatments in case of resource scarcity', the eight-page protocol was published by the Swiss Academy of Sciences on March 20, but, as La Stampa recalls today, it is not never been applied.
"Due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), an extraordinary situation has arisen that will determine a massive influx of patients into acute illness hospitals", reads the introduction of the guidelines that underline: " If the resources available are not sufficient, rationing decisions must be made ".
Then, on page 5, the part entitled 'Initial triage: criteria for admission to intensive care units' or the list of criteria according to which the doctor will have to make the difficult decision on who to admit in case there are not enough places in intensive care.