Ethical Decision Making in Disaster Triage

For as long as healthcare has existed, the decision-making component of triage has been a factor. The word triage is derived from the French word trier, meaning "sorting," "picking," or "choosing." Modern day triage has roots in the battlefield with the need to sort or prioritize patients in categories, according to the severity of their condition, to maximize survivors. Although healthcare technology and treatment modalities have become more sophisticated since these early battles, military nurses and other armed services health care personnel have used the principles of triage in conflicts ever since. Triage expanded beyond the battlefield and into the emergency departments in the 1900s and is now an important component of most emergency treatment, responsible for saving many lives. The purpose of this article is to explore the application of virtue-based ethics on triage decision making during disaster. Linda Good is a Doctoral Student, Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, University of San Diego, and Certified Occupational Health Nurse Specialist, Manager, Employee Occupational Health Services, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, Calif.