With a surge in infections from Covid-19 in Switzerland, where 6,592 new cases were reported yesterday, we are talking about the medical protocol to address a possible overcrowding of intensive care units. The rules state that in case of shortage of places the doctor can decide not to accept "people who are over 85 years of age" and people over 75 who have one of these diseases: "liver cirrhosis" , chronic renal failure stage III, NYHA class heart failure greater than 1 and estimated survival less than 24 months ".
   Entitled 'Covid-19 Pandemic: triage of intensive medicine treatments in case of resource scarcity', the eight-page protocol was published by the Swiss Academy of Sciences on March 20, but, as La Stampa reminds us today, of fact was never applied.
   "Due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), an extraordinary situation has arisen that will determine a massive influx of patients into acute care hospitals", reads the introduction of the guidelines that they underline: "If the resources available are not sufficient, rationing decisions must be made".
   Then, on page 5, the part entitled 'Initial triage: criteria for admission to intensive care units', that is the list of criteria on the basis of which the doctor will have to make the difficult decision on who to admit in case there is no are placed enough in intensive care
  Â