Posted: September 3rd, 2022

Covid-19 Ethical Issues in the United States and Abroad

Covid-19 Ethical Issues in the United States and Abroad
COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020 by the World Health Organization. It has spread globally and affected millions of people. The pandemic has not only killed thousands but also caused negative economic repercussions. COVID-19 has brought about ethical issues that are being deliberated on by bioethicists.
The pandemic has overwhelmed hospitals with patients seeking both acute and critical care. Critical care medical equipment is limited leading to a need for rationing. The issue of rationing has been controversial. Some argue that the benefits of accessing critical care services should be based on the ability to survive and the saved years, while others oppose it. They view it as a way of discrimination based on age and disability.
Apart from inadequate critical care equipment, there is also an increase in health and structural inequalities. In the US and Canada, people are discriminated based on race, ethnic group, and geographic location. Marginalized groups encounter challenges such as lack of medical insurance, problems with transportation to medical facilities, and financial constraints. Low-income communities under quarantine lack the financial capacity to buy food and sanitation products. Minority groups in the US find it hard to go to health facilities due to immigration status. They are afraid of deportation. They are also discriminated against in hospitals.
Rural areas have a scarcity of both health providers and medical equipment. Imbalance of medical personnel and equipment in rural and urban areas is a challenge. Some patients in rural areas are forced to opt for telemedicine during this pandemic. There are fears that some of the personnel and equipment may be transported to urban areas due to high infections. Rural areas also lack enough bioethicists.
Health providers are at the frontline in combating COVID-19. The issue of lack of enough personal protective equipment among health providers in some communities has been of particular concern. Medical practitioners deserve to be treated fairly. They are at a high risk of infection as they come into contact with the patients.
Health providers are also likely to get distressed due to the pandemic. Making decisions that are not in line with their core values and principles of professionalism is likely to cause stress, anxiety, and sleeping disorders. They should receive support. Informed consent is also an issue during pandemics. With restrictions in visiting sick people and an overwhelming number of patients, there is a lack of enough time for people to discuss consent forms.

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