Italians over 80 'will be left to die' as country overwhelmed by virus
Coronavirus victims in Italy will be denied access to intensive care if they are aged 80 or more or in poor health should pressure on beds increase, a document prepared by a crisis management unit in Turin propose.
Some patients denied intensive care will in effect be left to die, doctors fear.
The unit has drawn up a protocol, seen by The Sunday Telegraph, that will determine which patients receive treatment in intensive care and which do not if there are insufficient spaces.
One doctor said: "[Who lives and who dies] is decided by age and by the [patient's] health conditions. This is how it is in a war."
Coronavirus victims in Italy will be denied access to intensive care if they are aged 80 or more or in poor health should pressure on beds increase, a document prepared by a crisis management unit in Turin propose.
Some patients denied intensive care will in effect be left to die, doctors fear.
The unit has drawn up a protocol, seen by The Sunday Telegraph, that will determine which patients receive treatment in intensive care and which do not if there are insufficient spaces.
One doctor said: "[Who lives and who dies] is decided by age and by the [patient's] health conditions. This is how it is in a war."