Citation

Koogler TK. Acta Paediatr. 2016; 105(8): 879.

Affiliation

University of Chicago Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, Chicago, Il MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/apa.13462

PMID

27148976

Abstract

In this issue, Kukora and Laventhal(1) propose prohibiting adults who refuse the influenza vaccine from receiving Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) for overwhelming influenza during a pandemic when ECMO becomes a scare resource. They argue if one autonomously decides to forego vaccination, then a just consequence is not receiving ECMO if one becomes critically ill. The authors equate this to requiring alcoholics to be sober prior to a liver transplant. Unfortunately, the situation is more similar to the drunk driver after an accident that requires life-saving therapies. We provide critical therapies in an attempt to save the life regardless of why they are dying. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Language: en