"Selecteren op leeftijd zal soms onvermijdelijk zijn ". Wie wel, wie niet?

On request from the Belgian government and many hospital managements, ethical philosophers have made proposals for the selection of patients to treat, in case a shortage of intensive care beds and respiratory apparatus will appear. Younger patients have a better prognosis, and have more years to gain/lose. A person of 70, it is said, can lay less "claim"; opinions differ. But the old principle during shipwrecks "Women and children first" is not among the proposals. I consider the idea of selection to be ethically unacceptable because it denies the right to health care, while shortages are preventable. Actually, many hospitals, general practioners, public authorities and volunteers have been increasing their capacity, and personnel is making great efforts. In Belgium total the number of intensive bed was never occupied if transfer of patients was included. Nevertheless physicians in charge speak about "the very diffiicult ethical choice" they have to make. This situation contrasts with the 1110 billion euro offered by the ECB to support the economy, and the 327 billion of dividends paid by European businesses over 2019. In the commentaries written after the paper, the tremendous rise of number of deaths in old-age homes is mentioned, indicating that many sick persons were not transferred to hospitals. "Sick and weak residents of old-age homes must not be moved to the hospital": these last instructions were sent to the old-age homes and hospitals: www.tijd.be/dossiers/coronavirus/zwakste-rusthuisbewoners-met-corona-gaan-niet-naar-ziekenhuis/10216345 www.demorgen.be/nieuws/advies-uz-gent-meest-verzwakte-patienten-niet-op-intensieve-zorg~b27afeff/ www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20200324_04900687 www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20200324_04900191 www.tijd.be/dossiers/coronavirus/china-heft-reisbeperking-wuhan-op/10216380#728669 Afterwards, these instructions are being denied.