COVID-19 in Italy. Clinical emergency and bioethical perspectives

Italy is the European country with the second highest number of novel Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) deaths. Several factors interfered with the spread of this phenomenon, both clinical, political, and bioethical. In this scenario, where the need for care goes far beyond the capacity of a health system able to cope with it, what should be the criteria for an equitable distribution of the available resources? The mass quarantine required physical distancing in order to limit the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and contextually created additional problems for the organization Italian National Health Service. The delicate ethical questions posed by the current emergency are beginning to unveil some proposals for solutions in literature, which, although still insufficient for understandable reasons, is increasing.