ABSTRACT
COVID-19 has truly affected most of the world over the past many months, perhaps more than any other event in recent history. In the wake of this pandemic are patients, family members, and various types of care providers, all of whom share different levels of moral distress. Moral conflict occurs in disputes when individuals or groups have differences over, or are unable to translate to each other, deeply held beliefs, knowledge, and values. Such conflicts can seriously affect healthcare providers and cause distress during disastrous situations such as pandemics when medical and human resources are stretched to the point of exhaustion. In the current pandemic, most hospitals and healthcare institutions in the United States have not allowed visitors to come to the hospitals to see their family or loved ones, even when the patient is dying. The moral conflict and moral distress (being constrained from doing what you think is right) among care providers when they see their patients dying alone can be unbearable and lead to ongoing grief and sadness. This paper will explore the concepts of moral distress and conflict among hospital staff and how a system-wide provider wellness programme can make a difference in healing and health.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Conflict, Psychological , Death , Morals , Patient Isolation/ethics , Humans , Pandemics , United StatesABSTRACT
Acute care hospitals and extended care facilities across the United States care for patients who lack capacity to make medical decisions. When such patients are hospitalized and have no identifiable surrogate, their unrepresented status prompts questions about who should make decisions. This article explores using a regional state unrepresented patient advocacy committee as an alternative to appointment of a legal guardian or to using clinicians as decision makers.
