There’s another nasty epidemic spreading: ageism
I come from a long-lived line of women. From my great-greatgrandmother to my grandmother, all lived into their 90s and died peacefully at home in their beds.
So when I read that some physicians are advocating withholding ventilators for COVID-19 patients based solely on age, I’m concerned. Surely a more ethical approach would be to allocate resources based on who has the best prognosis, regardless of other factors.
In wartime triage, resources often go to those with the strongest possibility of survival. In many cases, that’s younger patients. But not invariably. Hale 70-year-olds may have better outcomes than unhealthy 45-year-olds.
Dr. Michael Kenyon is an ICU doctor who practises in British Columbia. He was quoted in one of the national papers decrying the choices he expects to have to make.
“What am I going to do with 14 ventilators?” he said to Gary Mason, the interviewer. “I can tell you what I’m going to do: I’m going to do what they’re doing in Italy and I’m going to take 70-year-olds off the ventilator, and then 60-yearolds off the ventilator and eventually 50-year-olds off the ventilator, and I’m going to give them to 30year-olds with three kids.”
Where does this lead? Do we prioritize those who have children above the childless? Do we acknowledge that many older people are actually raising children themselves? It gets messy.
We know there won’t be enough ventilators for everyone. The problem is dire and I don’t envy physicians the inevitable tough choices.
But the discussion has turned ugly. Media tell us that COVID-19 is “only” a threat to the elderly and those with underlying conditions, as if those lives are dispensable. On social media the disease has been referred to as “Boomer Remover.” (Pardon me if I don’t laugh.)
It’s worth noting that in established Jewish law, when medical resources are limited, they go to those most likely to benefit from a particular therapy.
According to Aish, an Orthodox Jewish organization, it’s all about who is most likely to have the best outcome regardless of other factors, such as age or social status.
This seems sensible. Older people vulnerable to COVID-19 are grandparents and parents. They are workers, caregivers and volunteers. They are not disposable.
I’m older myself. I’ve had a good run. All things being equal, of course younger people should get the ventilators. But often all things aren’t equal.
And age alone shouldn’t be the deciding factor.
When you’re moving fast in an ER, it’s perhaps easier to determine age than to assess health history and prognosis. But this doesn’t make it ethical.
If there were any doubt that older people are undervalued, the discussion around rationing clinches it. Racism and sexism have become unacceptable, but ageism gets a free pass.
I’m waiting with interest to see what medical ethics committees decide. But then again, I’m not holding my breath. Marsha Barber is a journalism professor at Ryerson University and a poet. She lives in Toronto.