Admission criteria and management of critical care patients in a pandemic context: position of the Ethics Commission of the French Intensive Care Society, update of April 2021.

Lesieur, Olivier; Quenot, Jean Pierre; Cohen-Solal, Zoé; David, Raphaëlle; De Saint Blanquat, Laure; Elbaz, Maxime; Gaillard Le Roux, Bénédicte; Goulenok, Cyril; Lavoué, Sylvain; Lemiale, Virginie; Mercier, Emmanuelle; Mezher, Chaouki; Misset, Benoît; Penven, Gwendolyn; Poujol, Anne Laure; Quentin, Bertrand; Quéré, Régis; Van Der Linden, Thierry; Rigaud, Jean Philippe

Intensive care unit professionals have experience in critical care and its proportionality, collegial decision-making, withholding or withdrawal of treatment deemed futile, and communication with patients' relatives. These elements rely on ethical values from which we must not deviate in a pandemic situation. The recommendations made by the Ethics Commission of the French Intensive Care Society reflect an approach of responsibility and solidarity towards our citizens regarding the potential impact of a pandemic on critical care resources in France, with the fundamental requirement of respect for human dignity and equal access to health care for all.