COVID-19 has placed enormous stress on hospitals and health care providers worldwide. Limitations in hospital capacity may result in difficult decisions in how life-sustaining technologies are allocated among patients. The authors of this essay provide guidance on how to communicate with patients who are seriously ill from COVID-19 infection.
Keywords: Behavior; COVID-19; Communication in health care; Emotions; Fear; Health care providers; Heart; Intensive care units; Quality of life; Resuscitation.