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(The Lab)--According to a 2008 story by Dorsey Griffith in the Sacramento Bee, a 1900 page report by the state Department of Public Health relates to a bioterror attack or influenza pandemic and is a stark lesson in survival of the fittest.
"...state statutes and regulations that govern hospitals and health care operations can be flexed or suspended by the governor during a surge. Alternate care sites, including school gymnasiums, sports venues and parking lots, can be used to care for ill and injured patients. Scarce medical supplies such as ventilators will be rationed under a system in which those patients who have a critical need for treatment and are likely to survive will be treated before those who are sick or critically injured and less likely to survive." (Bee)
A chart that accompanied the Bee story showed stats on various survival items stockpiled by the state. Included were 50.9 million N-95 respirator masks purchased for just under $20 million from 3M and Kimberly Clark and stored in "various state warehouses." Other items were also purchased and listed as stored in "undisclosed warehouses." Obviously, the state wants to keep it a big secret that it's hoarding hard to find items like N-95 masks.
Among other things, according to the Griffith story;
"The plan lists....which responsibilities and patient protections can be waived if the governor declares a state of emergency. Hospitals will not have to report births, deaths, infectious disease outbreaks, medication errors and suspected child or elder abuse." (Bee)
The grim assessment indicates just what the state government can do in the case of a pandemic, under the guidelines of a disaster or bioterror attack.
Sources,
Survive, Sacramento Bee, 02 March 2008, Page 10
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