Triaje en la pandemia COVID-19: un abordaje con perspectiva de derechos humanos

Abstract

Triage is a system for selecting and classifying patients in emergency services, based on therapeutic needs and available resources for adequate care. In addition, it differentiates patients, in times of normality where equal justice is applied and in times of emergency, equitable justice is applied. Triage always maintains medical, scientific and ethical criteria even in times of exception or health emergency, such as in the COVID-19 pandemic, avoiding injustices, discrimination, violations or exclusions of patients; always respecting the fundamental right to health and life. It does not change its name or its denomination in times of emergency, only the strategy before the scarce resource, establishing priorities for the distribution and adequate allocation of the resource. Applies distributive justice or social justice and the principle of proportionality what is useful and beneficial for whoever benefits the most. It always takes into account the ethics of public health as the highest social good that must be present in the actions and decisions of those who carry it out. The objective of this reflection article is to establish three questions that give answers to the importance of Triage in the COVID-19 pandemic, related to: Selection and classification; Respect for human rights, and Denomination of Triage.