Health experiences from a bioethical and legal perspective in the COVID-19 pandemic

Authors

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6018/bioderecho.480961
Keywords: COVID-19, pandemic, ethics, legal, moral, bioethics, decision-making

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is a challenge for health professionals from an ethical and moral commitment to the individuality of the human being, immersed under extreme difficulties and burdens making it impossible to respond to the principles of autonomy, beneficence, justice, and non-maleficence. The Ministry of Health reflects the importance of offering ethical guidelines, one of these situations was to prioritise the allocation of human and material resources under ethical values in decision making. The Spanish Bioethics Committee proposed to take into account the criteria of usefulness, equity and protection for non-discrimination, overwhelming prioritisation in intensive care with the selection of patients with greater possibilities, had repercussions in nursing homes, poor resource planning led to high mortality rates. Overt vulnerability has promoted values of empathy, solidarity and compassion, and has put aside emotions, intimacy and privacy, leading to reflections on a greater humanisation of health care. The principle of justice, bioethical and moral reasoning and scientific knowledge, together with decision making based on respect for the patient during their health and death, is paramount in order to support these professionals in their decision making.

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Author Biographies

Ana Belén Sánchez-García, University of Murcia, General University Hospital Reina Sofía (Murcia Health Service)

PhD in Nursing, University of Murcia. Degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology. Master's Degree in Bioethics. Master's Degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology. Specialist in pediatric nursing.

María de la Paz Guillermo-Giménez, Murcia City Council

Degree in Psicology and Pedagogy. Master's Degree in Teacher Training.

Josefa Muñoz-Sánchez, Murcia Health Service

Master's Degree in Biolaw. Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. Nurse at the Murcia Health Service.

Cindia Gómez-Pérez, Balearic Islands Health Service

Master's Degree in Emergency Medicine. Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. Nurse in Primary Care at the Balearic Islands Health Service.

Diego J. García-Capilla, University of Murcia, Murcia Health Service

PhD, University of Murcia. Associate Lecturer at the School of Philosophy, University of Murcia and member of the Centre for Biolaw, Ethics and Health (CEBES). Medical coordinator at the primary care emergency service, Murcia Health Service. Doctor at the primary care emergency service of San Javier-Murcia.

María José Torralba-Madrid, Profesora colaborada honoraria, Universidad de Murcia

PhD, Complutense University of Madrid. Associate Lecturer (honorary position), School of Nursing, University of Murcia. Secretary at the Centre for Biolaw, Ethics and Health (CEBES). Master's Degree in Bioethics by the Complutense University of Madrid.

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Published
26-11-2021
How to Cite
Sánchez-García, A. B., Guillermo-Giménez, M. de la P., Muñoz-Sánchez, J., Gómez-Pérez, C., García-Capilla, D. J., & Torralba-Madrid, M. J. (2021). Health experiences from a bioethical and legal perspective in the COVID-19 pandemic. Bioderecho, (13), 10 págs. https://doi.org/10.6018/bioderecho.480961
Issue
Section
Estudios