The Role of Physiatrists in Natural Disasters

After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, the images and stories of the role of health care providers caused alarm. Questions of misconduct, extreme duress, and unimaginable choices emerged. In a recent article entitled, “The Duty of Mind: Ethical Capacity in a Time of Crisis [1],” the authors argue that “the physician is obliged to always make life-and-death decisions under conditions of maximal ethical clarity.” (pg. 1) and that the stresses and chaos of a disaster can impact decision-making.
Source: PM and R - Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Tags: Ethical Legal Feature Source Type: research