Our modern societies have chosen to develop medical systems in which only a limited amount of resources - such as nurses and physicians, treatment, equipment, and money - are available. Even in seemingly normal times, patients are triaged in the emergency room based on the urgency of their complaint and the availability of clinicians. In the current COVID-19 pandemic, the limitations in our medical resources as a nation and globally have become increasingly apparent, as we hear about shortages of essential equipment for patients and providers such as surgical and N95 masks, beds, and ventilators. As such, determining the allocation of medical resources has become a pressing topic for all. We provide a framework that incorporates basic principles of medical ethics (autonomy, justice, beneficence, and nonmaleficence) and guides decision-making regarding resource allocation (i.e. “rationing”).