Are Ethical Standards on Covid-19 Triage Shaped by One’s Profession or Age Group? A Survey of the Slovenian Public

The chapter analyses public opinion on ethical criteria for Covid-19 triage measured in an online survey from May to June 2021. Its first part illustrates the views of the Slovenian public as to which patients should be prioritised when circumstances make it impossible to help all patients in need of intensive care. We find that the vast majority of our respondents would support priority treatment of the patient with the best chance of survival. Additionally, more than half of them would base their decision on the patient’s age and life expectancy. On the other hand, the respondents do not place importance on the patient’s compliance with Covid-19 measures and their employment in an intensive care unit. The second part of the chapter examines whether the ethical judgements of the respondents are influenced by their profession or age group. We find that age group or profession may influence decision-making in various situations, which can be a starting point for future research on decision-making in such tragic scenarios.