Ventilators aren’t a panacea for a pandemic like coronavirus

‘More ventilators!’ cried the journalists on Twitter. ‘Yes, more ventilators!’ replied the politicians. ‘Where are the ventilators?’ demanded the journalists, now screaming on television. ‘Yes, even more!’ replied the government, somewhat nonsensically. 

I am a critical care physician, specialising in the use of such machines. I’m flattered by all the attention our tools are receiving.