Guidelines on Ventilator Allocation


MSSNY Seal
MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
865 Merrick Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590-9007
www.mssny.org
Communications Division
Telephone: (516) 488-6100

 

For Immediate Release
April 2, 2020

Guidelines on Ventilator Allocation

Statement attributable to:
Art Fougner, MD
President, Medical Society of the State of New York

“Based on information from Governor Cuomo’s press briefings, along with communications from our member physicians, hospitals in New York are getting to the point where ventilators as lifeboats are reaching capacity. At this point, the most difficult decisions facing physicians will have to be made. Already, some emergency physicians are reporting being told the equivalent of ‘Use your best judgement. You’re on your own.’ For sure, we will be seeing increasing depression and PTSD that will eclipse today’s physician burnout.

“In 2015, NY State DOH’s Task Force on Life and Health published Guidelines on Ventilator Allocation. While DOH is reviewing the situation in light of COVID19, we suggest that our medical centers and health systems use this document as a framework to inform policy decisions. Additionally, each institution should empower its ethics committee to have in place a system to respond urgently to requests for guidance when the need arises so that no physician need bear this terrible burden alone.”

# # #

About the Medical Society of the State of New York
Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York is the state’s principal non-profit professional organization for physicians, residents and medical students of all specialties. Its mission is to represent the interests of patients and physicians to assure quality healthcare services for all.

MSSNY Contact:
Roseann Raia
Communications / Marketing
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Ave.
Westbury, New York
516-488-6100 ext 302
rraia@mssny.org

 

Facebook Icon Twitter Icon