About this book:

In "Epidemic Ethics: The Doctor's Dilemma," Dr. Elaine Voss, Director of Meridian Regional Medical Center, faces trial for criminally negligent homicide and conspiracy following an undead surge that overwhelmed her hospital. The narrative alternates between the tense courtroom drama and vivid flashbacks to the early weeks of the outbreak, portraying the impossible ethical choices made under extreme scarcity. Voss is accused of playing God by implementing controversial triage protocols, including a color-coded tagging system, a scarcity algorithm for ventilator allocation, and the denial of beds to critically ill patients.

The trial meticulously dissects Voss's decisions. Witnesses such as charge nurse Carlos Ríos and bioethicist Dr. Catherine Moyo offer conflicting perspectives on the necessity and morality of her actions. While the prosecution, led by Sandra Ying, frames Voss as an autocratic administrator who dehumanized patients and prioritized efficiency over individual lives, the defense, led by Marcus Tillman, argues that Voss operated within the bounds of crisis standards of care, making the best possible choices in an unprecedented catastrophe. Key evidence includes the "Lottery Box" used to break ties in ventilator allocation and the "Zero Hour Protocols" for end-of-life care under total system collapse.

Central to the defense is the argument that Voss's framework, though brutal, was designed to save the maximum number of lives and prevent total system collapse, a stance supported by expert witness Dr. Nora Kwon. The emotional toll on staff, or "moral distress," is explored, alongside the complex realities of the "Family Corridor" where loved ones waited, largely in the dark. A pivotal moment comes with the testimony of Voss's daughter, Maya, who, as an epidemiologist, humanizes her mother's desperate attempts to maintain humanity amidst the cold logic of survival.

Ultimately, Dr. Elaine Voss is found not guilty. However, the verdict offers no true absolution for the scars left by the surge. In the aftermath, Voss steps down from her role at Meridian General, which undergoes new management. Her former colleagues, like Dr. Ravi Patel and Carlos Ríos, also grapple with the profound moral residue, some leaving medicine, others finding new ways to practice care. The book concludes with Voss, now working at a smaller community hospital, accepting a photograph of her original triage board, a poignant reminder that while the math was brutal, her decisions were ultimately an attempt to see and account for every human life amidst overwhelming loss.