Abstract
We distinguish and review aspects of the history of two models of triage: egalitarian and utilitarian. Egalitarian triage is widely and successfully practiced in battlefield medicine, as well as in the emergency room and the ICU. Utilitarian triage has been sporadically practiced and typically collapses under the pressure of public scrutiny. Unfortunately, the two models tend to be conflated, confusing our understanding of the past and confounding our ability to plan for the future.
Publication types
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Historical Article
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Review
MeSH terms
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Emergency Service, Hospital / standards
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Ethical Analysis*
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Ethical Theory*
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Ethics
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Health Care Rationing / standards*
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History, 19th Century
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History, 20th Century
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Intensive Care Units / standards
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Military Medicine / history
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Military Medicine / standards
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Models, Theoretical
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Patient Selection*
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Penicillins / supply & distribution
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Renal Dialysis / standards
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Resource Allocation*
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Social Justice*
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Triage / history
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Triage / standards*
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United States
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World War II