Recommendations on aspects of bioethics. (Pautas nacionales para la atenci..n de pacientes adultos con COVID-19.) [Spanish]

ABSTRACT

The aim of the article was to study various aspects of ethics. Other obligations are duty of self-care, principle of protection of health personnel, duty of health planning and duty of response of health institutions. The traditional principles of bioethics beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy and justice, have a predominant role in the normal work of intensive medicine, but in special situations such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, the principles of justice and non-maleficence have a higher hierarchy. The fundamental ethical principle that the society accepts for health work and that inspires legal norms is respect for the dignity of people. When a patient is admitted to the ICU, a series of guidelines and/or diagnostic and therapeutic criteria are established with a clear objective, which must be communicated to the patient and family. If benefits are not achieved after total life support for a pre-established period, futility and the need for therapeutic adaptation will be considered, prioritizing comfort. It is recommended to establish early the degree of therapeutic intensity that will be beneficial for each patient, which can be modified according to evolution.