COVID-19 pandemic causing medical and public health ethical dilemmas: A case report and review of literature

• Published in: Qualitative research in medicine & healthcare Vol. 5; no. 1; p. 9690
• Main Authors: Hernandez, Jarelys, Lubrano di Ciccone, Barbara, Thirlwell, Sarah, Booth-Jones, Margaret, Aslam, Sadaf, Greene, John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy PAGEPress Publications, Pavia, Italy 25-03-2021; PAGEPress Publications
• Subjects: COVID-19; end of life; ethics; pandemic; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; end of life; SARS-CoV-2; ethics; pandemic
• ISSN: 2532-2044; 2532-2044
• DOI: 10.4081/qrmh.2021.9690

The COVID-19 pandemic presented myriad of unprecedented and daunting ethical dilemmas to healthcare workers, patients, their families, and the public health. Here we present a case of a 42-years-old Hispanic female with underlying hematological malignancy that developed severe SARS-COV-2 infection amidst the pandemic. This case illustrates some remarkable ethical dilemmas during pandemic times, including the lack of advanced directive planning, the repercussions of restricting family visits, and what ethics in crisis and moral injury entails. Identifying the ethical challenges emerging from the pandemic will assist physicians and other providers in making proper decisions and maintaining the best standard of care.