Resources & Statements

Ethical Concerns with COVID-19 Triage Protocols

Ethical Concerns with COVID-19 Triage Protocols

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, The National Catholic Bioethics Center has fielded numerous questions regarding COVID-19 triage protocols. We have reviewed a number of such protocols from both Catholic and secular sources; and while we do not question the need for appropriate policies or question the good motives of their authors, we do have concerns.

We offer this document to alert Catholic (and other) health care providers of elements within these protocols that may conflict with an institution’s mission and Catholic identity.

Statements by NCBC EthicistsNCBC EthicistsApril 3, 2020COVID-19, Catholic Health Care, Professional Guidance

Points to Consider: Triage in the Perspective of Catholic Bioethics

Points to Consider: Triage in the Perspective of Catholic Bioethics

Triage is an organized process of determining the priority of treating patients based on the severity of their condition. Closely linked to triage in times of crisis or during emergency events is rationing, the controlled allocation of medical equipment, services, or resources, including the time and attention of health care professionals. As the pandemic spreads in breadth and depth, people are beginning to call for programs of triage and rationing of health care. How should Catholic health care professionals and administrators address these issues?

Statements by NCBC EthicistsNCBC EthicistsMarch 25, 2020COVID-19, Catholic Health Care, Professional Guidance

Moral Choices When Not All Can Be Saved

Moral Choices When Not All Can Be Saved

In a PowerPoint presentation produced during the SARS epidemic, Marie Hilliard offers notes on the willingness of health care professionals to care for patients in an epidemic, the problem of medical negligence, and the general duty of human beings to care for each other. She discusses various moral frameworks for decision making, rules of triage, and the challenge of rationing.

Statements by NCBC EthicistsMarie Hilliard, JCD, PhD, RN—Senior FellowMarch 20, 2020COVID-19, Catholic Health Care, Professional Guidance

The Duty to Care

The Duty to Care

NCBC senior fellow Marie Hilliard discusses the standards of care for health care workers during a pandemic. The article was written during the avian flu crisis of several years ago, but the moral reasoning remains unchanged. She also discusses philosophical underpinnings of the moral duty to care, triage, virtue, and heroism.

Statements by NCBC EthicistsMarie Hilliard, JCD, PhD, RN—Senior FellowMarch 20, 2020COVID-19, Catholic Health Care, Professional Guidance

NCBC Statement on the COVID-19 Pandemic

We at The National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC) wish to convey to our many contacts, benefactors, and friends our continued resolve to serve as a trusted source of ethical counsel and information as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds globally.

Statements by NCBC EthicistsThe National Catholic Bioethics CenterMarch 19, 2020COVID-19, Professional Guidance

Summary: Brain Death

FAQs and SummariesThe National Catholic Bioethics CenterOctober 31, 2019Brain Death, Determination of Death, End-of-Life Issues, Organ Donation

Summary: Physician-Assisted Suicide

FAQs and SummariesThe National Catholic Bioethics CenterOctober 29, 2019Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia, Catholic Health Care, End-of-Life Issues, Advance Directives and POLST

Summary: Transgenderism: Cultural Overview—How Did We Get Here?

FAQs and SummariesThe National Catholic Bioethics CenterOctober 29, 2019Gender Identity and Being Transgender, Catholic Health Care

Statement of the NCBC on Salpingectomy to Reduce Cancer Risk (Updated)

Statement of the NCBC on Salpingectomy to Reduce Cancer Risk (Updated)

Statements by NCBC EthicistsNCBC EthicistsJune 14, 2019Sterilization, Experimental Treatment, Professional Guidance, Consultation, Genetics and Genome Editing

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Training in Catholic Health Care

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Training in Catholic Health Care

Statements by NCBC EthicistsNCBC EthicistsMarch 15, 2019Catholic Health Care, Professional Guidance, Gender Identity and Being Transgender, Human Sexuality

Commentary on the CDF Responsum of December 10, 2018

Commentary on the CDF Responsum of December 10, 2018

Statements by NCBC EthicistsNCBC EthicistsFebruary 15, 2019Sterilization, Catholic Health Care, Pregnancy Complications, Professional Guidance, Consultation, Conscience and Civil Liberties

Introduction to the Sixth Edition of the ERDs

Introduction to the Sixth Edition of the ERDs

FAQs and SummariesNCBC EthicistsJanuary 15, 2019Catholic Health Care, Professional Guidance, Consultation, Cooperation and Double Effect, Conscience and Civil Liberties

Reexamining Humanae Vitae and Its Significance for Catholic Health Care

Reexamining Humanae Vitae and Its Significance for Catholic Health Care

Statements by NCBC EthicistsJohn F. Brehany, PhD, STL—Director of Institutional RelationsOctober 12, 2018Catholic Health Care, Birth Control and Contraception, Natural Family Planning (NFP)

Proceedings: Advancing Humanae Vitae: Best Practices and Next Steps in Catholic Health Care Delivery and Education

FAQs and SummariesThe National Catholic Bioethics CenterOctober 11, 2018Birth Control and Contraception, Natural Family Planning (NFP), Catholic Health Care, Professional Guidance

NCBC Guide to Completing the POLST Form

NCBC Guide to Completing the POLST Form

FAQs and SummariesNCBC EthicistsJune 15, 2018End-of-Life Issues, Advance Directives and POLST, Conscience and Civil Liberties

Ethical Principles concerning Employed Health Care Providers and the Provision or Prescription of Direct Contraception

Ethical Principles concerning Employed Health Care Providers and the Provision or Prescription of Direct Contraception

Statements by NCBC EthicistsNCBC EthicistsApril 1, 2018Catholic Health Care, Consultation, Professional Guidance, Birth Control and Contraception, Cooperation and Double Effect, Conscience and Civil Liberties, Government Mandates (ACA and HHS)

NCBC Statement on GlaxoSmithKline's Shingrix

Statements by NCBC EthicistsThe National Catholic Bioethics CenterOctober 30, 2017Stem Cell Research, Abortion, Catholic Health Care, Cooperation and Double Effect, Vaccines and Vaccination

NCBQ 17.2 (Summer 2017): Gender Transitioning and Catholic Health Care

NCBQ 17.2 (Summer 2017): Gender Transitioning and Catholic Health Care

Statements by NCBC EthicistsJohn A. Di Camillo, PhD, BeL—Staff EthicistAugust 15, 2017Gender Identity and Being Transgender, Catholic Health Care, Professional Guidance

Ethics & Medics 42.7 (July 2017): A Critique of “Gender Dysphoria” in DSM-5

Ethics & Medics 42.7 (July 2017): A Critique of “Gender Dysphoria” in DSM-5

Statements by NCBC EthicistsEdward J. Furton, PhD, MA—Director of PublicationsJuly 17, 2017Gender Identity and Being Transgender

Statement of the NCBC on the Charlie Gard Case

Statement of the NCBC on the Charlie Gard Case

Statements by NCBC EthicistsNCBC EthicistsJuly 7, 2017Catholic Health Care, Determination of Death, Experimental Treatment, End-of-Life Issues