Dr. Evans discovered that Memorial Medical Center doctors did not learn about life-and-death choices and ventilator rationing protocols. Guidelines were created by experts in disaster medicine, bioethics, and public policy to avoid stress and make tough decisions.
Post-Hurricane Katrina, a nonprofit parent company, had a well-organized local command center providing proactive assistance to its hospitals and the region. However, staff members remained unprepared for potential disasters like power loss and medicine issues. The lack of proper planning by federal, state, and local health departments contributed to this issue. This highlights the lack of a standard or policy for medical associates in disaster situations.
Maryland’s disaster planning approach was successful in addressing the issue of saving those with the highest chance of survival. However, it considered using age as a primary basis for resource allocation, which could alter society and erode trust in the medical system. Instead, triage focuses on dividing resources for the larger population, aiming to maximize lives saved, quality of life, fairness, and social trust. The larger community may have different ideas than small medical professionals.
The story positively impacted my opinion of the AMA and my vote on a proposed campaign for state laws to make doctors immune from liability in disasters.
Democracy is a people-powered system that relies on their will for governance. Accessing public wisdom on policy choices is crucial. The story teaches about public involvement in disaster management, fair treatment of patients, and transparent decision-making. The goal is to provide the highest standard of care and plan for disasters.