The Triage of “Blameworthy” Patients

One question that has sometimes cropped up in the debate on triage and management of scarce healthcare resources concerns patients’ merits, demerits, responsibility with regard to their own medical condition. During current pandemic, some have wondered, when it comes accessing healthcare, whether patients who refused vaccination—despite availability vaccines pressure get vaccinated from health authorities—should be given same priority as diligently undergone vaccination accordance authorities’ recommendations. The issue merits demerits is not new, did emerge pandemic for first time. In past, was often posed terrorists right receive treatment victims, degree priority, all clinical conditions being equal. Another been raised suffering diseases caused by unhealthy lifestyles they freely adopted: drinking, smoking, eating fatty foods, practising extreme sports, etc. conclusion reached present article indeed possible identify certain general rules cases this sort, shown literature topic. However, slavishly following these rules, even exceptional which impossible make detailed provisions, can lead disastrous consequences. Therefore, Aristotle, seeks take account both rule justice equity, a form “situational justice” capable filling gaps norms light concrete cases.