In COVID-19 hotspots like Wuhan, China , or New York City , death rates for patients on ventilators have been as high as 90%. It’s causing hospitals around the world to develop new protocols and innovate on the fly. That’s what’s happened at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, and so far 3 out of every 4 patients placed on a ventilator at Parkland are expected to recover. Of the 42 patients that have been placed on life support, nine have died.