scholarly journals The legal and medical necessity of abortion care amid the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Greer Donley ◽  
Beatrice A Chen ◽  
Sonya Borrero
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Prenatal Care ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Short Paper ◽  
Scarce Resources ◽  
Abortion Care ◽  
Delivery Assistance ◽  
Constitutional Right ◽  
Health Purpose

Abstract In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, states have ordered the cessation of non-essential healthcare. Unfortunately, many conservative states have sought to capitalize on those orders to halt abortion care. In this short paper, we argue that abortion should not fall under any state’s non-essential healthcare order. Major medical organizations recognize that abortion is essential healthcare that must be provided even in a pandemic, and the law recognizes abortion as a time-sensitive constitutional right. Finally, we examine the constitutional arguments as to why enforcing these orders against abortion providers should not stand constitutional scrutiny. We conclude that no public health purpose can be served by this application because abortion uses less scarce resources and involves fewer contacts with healthcare professionals than prenatal care and delivery assistance, which is continuing to be provided in this public health emergency.

scholarly journals What is common and what is different: recommendations from European scientific societies for triage in the first outbreak of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
pp. medethics-2020-106969
Author(s):  
Joana Teles Sarmento ◽  
Cristina Lírio Pedrosa ◽  
Ana Sofia Carvalho
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Fair Allocation ◽  
Ethical Values ◽  
Scientific Societies ◽  
Decision Tools ◽  
Life Saving

A public health emergency, as the COVID-19 pandemic, may lead to shortages of potentially life-saving treatments. In this situation, it is necessary, justifiable and proportionate to have decision tools in place to enable healthcare professionals to triage and prioritise access to those resources. An ethically sound framework should consider the principles of beneficence and fair allocation. Scientific Societies across Europe were concerned with this problem early in the pandemic and published guidelines to support their professionals and institutions. This article aims to compare triage policies from medical bodies across Europe, to characterise the process of triage and the ethical values, principles and theories that were proposed in different countries during the first outbreak of COVID-19.

Attitudes Toward The Use Of Quarantine In A Public Health Emergency--Survey

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Blendon ◽  
Catherine M. DesRoches ◽  
Martin S. Cetron ◽  
John M. Benson ◽  
Theodore Meinhardt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Emergency
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