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Table 1 Contrasting medical decision-making in resource-adequate versus resource-poor situations

From: Clinical review: Allocating ventilators during large-scale disasters – problems, planning, and process

Limiting medical care

Resource-adequate situation

Resource-poor situation

Focus

Patient autonomy

Community needs

Relationships

Caregivers invested with family

Caregivers unknown to family

Patient condition

End of life

NOT at end of life

Decision made

Days to weeks

Hours

Prior care

Exhaustive

Little to none

Subjective inputs

Critical

Minimal

Key decision-maker

Family and caregivers

'Triage' physician or team