I just got off my exercise bike and came running to write to you. I haven't even taken a shower yet. It's just that while I was pedaling, I was listening to a 2006 episode of my favorite podcast of all time, the traditional Radiolab. In this program the subject was “triage” (a subject I have already posted previously here). It is content in English, easy to understand, but I warn you in advance so that those who do not speak the language can skip the tip.
When people are dying and you can only save a few, how do you choose? Maybe you'll save the youngest one. Or the sickest. Maybe you just put all the names in a hat and choose at random. Would your response change if a sick person was right in front of you?
Despite being recorded 4 years ago, the subject obviously gains relevance in the current context. And I know we are all saturated with the topic, but the podcast is not depressing and it is ULTRA interesting. It even serves metaphorically, after all we need to make several decisions daily and perhaps we haven't yet thought much about developing a filtering optimization method in this routine. It serves to help you decide where to invest your time, your attention and your emotions. What you read, what you watch, who you hang out with, etc.
But back to the episode:
But back to the episode: the folks at RadioLab (the great Robert Krulwich and Co.) called on New York Times reporter Sheri Fink to explore this screening topic, which she knows well. In a war zone, a hurricane, a church basement, and an earthquake, the question remains the same. What happens, what should happen, when humans are forced to act like God?
Produced by Simon Adler and Annie McEwen. Reported by Sheri Fink.
In the book that inspired this episode, the “Five Days at Memorial”, you can find more information about what happened at Memorial Hospital during Hurricane Katrina, as told by Sheri Fink.
Listen carefully, I'm sure you'll be glued to the stories. Each story better than the other.
If you want to follow along by reading the transcript, you can here.
And after listening, it's also worth taking a look on this discussion page about the episode, on Reddit.
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