Transparent triage policies during the COVID-19 pandemic: a critical part of medico-legal risk management for clinicians

Article

Close, Eliana, Willmott, Lindy, Cockburn, Tina, Young, Simon, Cairns, Will and White, Ben P.. 2021. "Transparent triage policies during the COVID-19 pandemic: a critical part of medico-legal risk management for clinicians." Medical Journal of Australia. 215 (2), pp. 71-74.e1. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51079
Article Title

Transparent triage policies during the COVID-19 pandemic: a critical part of medico-legal risk management for clinicians

ERA Journal ID15323
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsClose, Eliana (Author), Willmott, Lindy (Author), Cockburn, Tina (Author), Young, Simon (Author), Cairns, Will (Author) and White, Ben P. (Author)
Journal TitleMedical Journal of Australia
Journal Citation215 (2), pp. 71-74.e1
Number of Pages5
Year2021
PublisherJohn Wiley & Sons
Place of PublicationAustralia
ISSN0025-729X
1326-5377
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51079
Web Address (URL)https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.5694/mja2.51079
Abstract

This article addresses the legal status of policy documents relied on by clinicians making resource allocation decisions in the context of public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. A lack of clear state-supported guidelines elevates risks for clinicians for the consequences of decisions that they have a professional duty to make in the interests of their community. The article argues that transparent triage policies are critical from a legal, as well as an ethical perspective.

KeywordsAustralia; COVID-19; Guidelines as Topic; Health Personnel; Health Policy; Humans; Pandemics; Risk Management; Triage
Contains Sensitive ContentDoes not contain sensitive content
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020420306. Health care administration
480605. Tort law
480701. Administrative law
Public Notes

File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author.

Byline AffiliationsQueensland University of Technology
Centre for Heritage and Culture
James Cook University
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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