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