Triage should be:
(1) fair and just
(2) made based on explicit criteria
Triage should not be based on:
(1) race or ethnic origin
(2) religion or creed
(3) gender
(4) social worth
(5) sexual preference
(6) ability to pay
Explicit criteria for triage:
(1) likelihood of survival to discharge
(2) life expectancy (presence of a terminal or irreversible disease)
(3) quality of life if survives
(4) patient or family wishes
(5) expected benefit from intensive care
(6) economic cost of providing care
(7) burden (psychological cost) experienced by the patient and family
(8) benefit of using the resources for another patient (applicable if resources are scarce)
(9) ethical or moral values
Exemptions:
(1) support of an organ donor pending preparation of organ recipient