Almost every news item these days is connected in some way to COVID-19 and offers limited or conflicting points of view. When we dig deeper, the role of bioethics becomes apparent and both clarifies and complicates matters. Bioethics is a branch of applied ethics that studies the philosophical, social, and legal issues arising in medicine and the life sciences. Thinking back over the past year of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may recall a number of bioethical issues. In 2020 the key issues involved (1) the allocation and distribution of treatment resources and (2) access to information on alternative treatment approaches. Currently in 2021 the key issues involve (1) allocation and distribution of vaccines and (2) mandating of vaccinations.

Decision makers at all levels of government, medical facilities, workplaces, schools, etc., face bioethical considerations weighing individual rights against the greater good of the community. As you learn of COVID-19 decisions made, you may want to look beyond what is in a news story for the impact on you as an individual and the impact on the community around you. Hopefully, you will find that the needs of all involved are being respected and accommodated. For example, what about those who are not getting vaccinated, such as those who:

• had COVID-19 and have natural anti-bodies
• have existing conditions that increase the odds of a serious negative reaction to a vaccine
• are in a group with low expectation of getting COVID-19, and if they did, a lower expected percentage of COVID-19 complications than the documented percentage of a negative reaction to a vaccine.

Issue: Understanding bioethical decisions related to COVID-19

AHHA strives to maintain a neutral position on issues and views knowledge as power. For those interested in this month’s issue, the articles below were selected to support insights into bioethical considerations related to COVID-19. As always, discuss any healthcare change with your physician.

general COVID-19 bioethics
Ethics and COVID-19
WHO

Bioethics in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic (3/12/20)
SALUD

distribution of treatment resources
Ethical Challenges Arising in the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Overview from the Association of Bioethics Program Directors (ABPD) Task Force (July 2020)
by Amy L McGuire, et.al.
PubMed

What the Chaos in Hospitals is Doing to Doctors (Jan/Feb 2021)
by Jordan Kisner
The Atlantic

access to information on alternative treatment approaches
Can Zn Be a Critical Element in COVID-19 Treatment? (5/26/20)
by Mohammad Tariqur Rahman, ^, Syed Zahir Idid
PubMed

Vitamin D in Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19: Current Perspective and Future Prospects (9/1/20)
by Navya Vyas, et.al.
PubMed

distribution of vaccines
But Is it Fair? Bioethics, COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution, and Advocacy (2/11/21)
by Chen Fang, PharmD,RPh
Infectious Disease Advisor

2021 CCTS Bioethics Forum Wrap-Up (after 3/19/21)
Center for Clinical and Translational Science

mandating of vaccinations
Compulsory COVID-19 Vaccination?
by Gyan Moorthy
Voices in Bioethics

Good reasons to vaccinate: mandatory or payment for risk? (February 2021)
by Julian Savulescu
BMJ Journals

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