UNESCO Chair on Bioethics at the Medical University of Vienna, Ethics, Collections and History of Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2020 Jul;132(13-14):400-402. doi: 10.1007/s00508-020-01709-7. Epub 2020 Jul 8.
Mankind has to prepare for a pandemic with respect to medical and practical aspects, but also with respect to ethical issues. There are various ethical guidelines for managing infectious disease outbreaks, but they do not apply to the specific aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, since they were formulated after the different kinds of outbreaks of avian influenza and Ebola. Today we are confronted with completely new issues endangering our fundamental human rights. As COVID-19 is spreading all over the world, we are in a desperate situation to find treatment solutions; however, despite the urgency, scientific rules have to be applied as bad science is unethical since it might be harmful for patients. Fake news and alternative facts might not be easily recognized and are also threatening scientific values. Pandemics might be leading to a meltdown of the health system if no measures are being taken constraining fundamental human rights. Tracking of persons is violating human rights as well if not accepted on a voluntary basis. A failure to have safeguards for times of crisis leads to a scarcity of medicinal products and goods resulting in a nationalistic approach and ignorance of international solidarity. And last but not least selective measures and triage in intensive care have to be taught to young physicians and nursing staff in medical schools in order to be prepared in times of an infectious disease outbreak and scarcity of resources.
人类必须在医学和实践方面为大流行做好准备,还必须在伦理问题方面做好准备。有各种管理传染病暴发的伦理准则,但它们不适用于 COVID-19 大流行的具体方面,因为它们是在禽流感和埃博拉不同类型的暴发之后制定的。今天,我们面临着危及我们基本人权的全新问题。由于 COVID-19 在全球范围内传播,我们迫切需要寻找治疗方法;然而,尽管情况紧急,也必须应用科学规则,因为不良科学是不道德的,因为它可能对患者有害。假新闻和替代事实可能不容易被识别,也对科学价值观构成威胁。如果不采取限制基本人权的措施,大流行可能导致卫生系统崩溃。如果不是基于自愿,对人员进行追踪也会侵犯人权。在危机时期没有保障措施,会导致药品和货物短缺,从而导致民族主义做法和无视国际团结。最后但同样重要的是,选择性措施和重症监护中的分诊必须在医学院教授给年轻医生和护理人员,以便在传染病暴发和资源短缺时做好准备。