Table 5.

Suggested guidelines for ongoing evaluation at 72 hour intervals

1 Patient demonstrating clear and unanimous clinical improvement after resource allocation

Patient remains on ventilator (or other limited resource)

2 Patient demonstrating clear and unanimous worsening despite resource allocation and need still exists for limited resource by others

Patient removed from limited resource and opportunity given to another prospective patient

3 Patient's clinical status equivocal despite resource allocation and need still exists for limited resource by others

To be handled on a case-by-case basis