The number of COVID-19 cases have been rising steeply for the past few weeks, even Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that most ICU beds in the country have already reached 100% capacity.
And now, medical patients assessed with low chances of recovery will no longer be admitted to intensive care units (ICU) in Kedah, said state Health and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mohd Hayati Othman.
Photo via EdgePro
He told Berita Harian the difficult decision needed to be made despite remaining spaces in the state’s ICUs in order to maximise the survivability rate of patients that will occupy the beds.
“I am conflicted about whether to disclose this situation or not, but it must be made known that in some cases, the doctors must choose if a patient should be sent to the ICU, if the patient is too chronic or has no hope, we will not admit him into the ICU.
“This includes patients who are not COVID-19 cases, the doctor will make a careful assessment for some cases, however, we will treat all patients to the best of our ability until they recover and are stable,” he said.
Kedah is among states facing severe outbreaks of COVID-19, with another 417 new cases.
Due to the state’s COVID-19 situation, the National Security Council (MKN) has already imposed the EMCO across the entire district of Kota Setar.
Health DG, Dr Noor Hisham previously said he did not wish to see the country deteriorate to the point where doctors must decide which patients would live and which must be left to die.
On Thursday (May 20th), Malaysia reported another 59 deaths from COVID-19, the highest tally in a single day, along with a new record of 6,806 new cases.
Guys, please stay safe and make sure to always follow SOPs and maintain physical distancing!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
