COVID-19: Paradox of increasing capacities versus focus on Hippocratic ethics?

Abstract

A simple statistical review of the results of the increased availability of ICU beds in the EU shows that irrespective of whether a country has a lot of ICU beds or just a few, the death rates due to COVID-19 is still the same (P = 0.34, Fig. 1 and Tab. 1). An answer to the paradox comes from a group of intensive care physicians from long-suffering Italy [2], who claim that, at present, attention is focused mainly on increasing capacities (e.g., the number of ICU beds, respirators and intensive care units, etc.). Conflict of interest The author, George Anogeianakis, certifies that he has no financial conflict of interest (e.g., consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) in connection with this article. 1.