[Medical decision-making in clinical disaster medicine and in healthcare crises : Applying ethics and law in resource allocation].

In health crises marked by severe resource scarcity, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic and in anticipated scenarios of national or state defence, hospitals face the challenge of maintaining the best possible medical care under ethically and legally responsible conditions. This article analyzes the ethical, legal and operational foundations of resource allocation in clinical disaster medicine. Central to this are the principles of utility maximization, fairness and transparency, which necessitate a shift from standard individual-centered care to a population-oriented crisis response. Medical indication forms the cornerstone of any treatment and must be evidence-based and patient-centered, even under crisis conditions. Therapeutic goals and prognostic assessment within the given resource constraints serve as key criteria for prioritization and allocation decisions. The use of triage category IV (blue) and the implementation of tertiary (ex-post) triage within hospitals are only conceivable under conditions of existential scarcity and require clear legal and ethical justification. Clinical ethics committees and independent triage teams play a pivotal role in decision-making and communication. The legal interpretation, particularly in the context of § 5c of the German Infection Protection Act, remains controversial and demands nuanced evaluation. The article underlines the necessity of consistent decision-making processes, structured documentation and the inclusion of vulnerable populations in crisis planning. Finally, operational strategies, such as tactical abbreviated surgical care (TASC), are presented as resource-efficient approaches to care. The overarching goal is to enable as many patients as possible to access the best achievable medical care, even under extreme conditions, while upholding ethical standards.