BIOETHICS Assignment: Ethical Issues in Healthcare During COVID-19

This report addresses the ethical dilemmas encountered in healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights issues such as the scarcity of ventilators and the challenges in allocating these resources between patients of different ages. The report explores several bioethical principles and theories, including beneficence, autonomy, deontology, utilitarianism, and justice, and how they can be applied to resolve these dilemmas. The report emphasizes the need for ethical guidelines in resource allocation and discusses the importance of research ethics in ensuring the protection of patients' rights and welfare during public health crises. The bibliography includes sources from the World Health Organization, Vox, and Alzheimer Europe.

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BIOETHICS

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Table of Contents
Ethical issues...............................................................................................................................................2
Lack of ventilators and other services.....................................................................................................2
Principles and theories................................................................................................................................2
Beneficence principle..............................................................................................................................2
Autonomy principle.................................................................................................................................2
Deontology..............................................................................................................................................3
Utilitarian.................................................................................................................................................3
Justice......................................................................................................................................................3
Bibliography................................................................................................................................................4

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Ethical issues
Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) plague is regularly raising thorny medial ethical dilemmas
(World Health Organization, 2020). Health care system on the basis of scientific patient profiles
is required to guide decisions regarding ratio crucial care sources like ventilators. Following is
the ethical issues increased due to COVID-19.
Lack of ventilators and other services
There is need of ventilator for 12 year and 78 year old patient who suffering from COVID-19.
Both required mechanical ventilation but main issues are that solitary one ventilator is
obtainable. Bioethicists that practices within the USA on day to day basis that have not yet
grapple with process of decision making when sources will be limited.
Italy has already facing with the limited resources issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ethical perspective is effective to provide the guidance while dilemmas arise like if number of
patients that need support at high level like ventilator that available within the hospital and
young people are priorities first compare to old people as have more chances to survive in
COVID-19 (Romeo, 2020).
Principles and theories
Following are the principles and theories which will help to solve the ethical dilemma in
COVID-19.
Beneficence principle
This is known as the ethical principles which address option that a carer’s action should promote
for good. This kind of thought of doing good is best for the patient and not confused with the
related principle of non-maleficence that one should not see to any harm to patient whether
young or old.
Autonomy principle
This kind of principle will support to view the right of individual regarding self-determination.
This presents the capability of individual to make the uninfluenced and rational decisions.

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Deontology
This kind of theory states an act which will help to lead for something good. For example, it will
help health care system professionals to provide care with morally best thing to provide care.
Utilitarian
This is known as the normative ethical theory which places right and wrong locus solely on
consequences of choosing policies over the others. This will work as an effective option in the
ethical dilemma of COVID-19 as help to move beyond the one’s interest and scope by
considering the interests of others that not get the ventilators.
Justice
This theory will work in the COVID-19 as help the moral obligation to work on the basis of real
and fair adjudication within the competing claims of services and care of ventilators. This is
appropriately linked to address the equality, entitlement, and fairness (Alzheimer, 2020).
Ethical issues are associated with response and planning regarding future pandemics which are
significant to ensure and consider response efforts which are not hindered within the pandemic
events. Research ethics oversee standards of conduct regarding ethical issues to protect the
welfare, dignity, and many rights of participants.
Save the life is important fundamental activity regarding health of public including many
practices and areas that outbreak health system. Ethical problems include issues regarding equal
distribution of sources, vulnerable group’s protection and provide the best treatment to patient
through acceptable standards regarding care.

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Bibliography
Alzheimer, E., 2020. Justice. [Online]
Available at: https://www.alzheimer-europe.org/Ethics/Definitions-and-approaches/The-four-common-
bioethical-principles/Justice
[Accessed 11 04 2020].
Romeo, N., 2020. The grim ethical dilemma of rationing medical care, explained. [Online]
Available at: https://www.vox.com/coronavirus-covid19/2020/3/31/21199721/coronavirus-The%20grim
%20ethical%20dilemma%20of%20rationing%20medical%20care,%20explainedThe%20grim%20ethical
%20dilemma%20of%20rationing%20medical%20care,%20explained-19-hospitals-triage-rationing
[Accessed 11 04 2020].
World Health Organization, 2020. Rolling updates on coronavirus disease (COVID-19). [Online]
Available at: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-
happen
[Accessed 07 04 2020].