The Coronavirus Pandemic And Medical Ethics
From the most primitive inception of organized healthcare, medical professionals have worked diligently to evolve their collective understanding of health and wellness, to help others, and to effectively minimize the effects of various medical conditions. With an everlasting commitment to bettering the lives of others, medical professionals have navigated various ethically sensitive situations to ensure that patient safety, efficacy, satisfaction, and care remained a top priority. During wartime, medical professionals had to deal with supply shortages, rationing systems, and a prioritization of injury in hospital settings. Throughout the rise of modern medicine, medical professionals have had to compete with rising budgeting demands, transparency concerns, and even newly burgeoning privacy considerations arising from evolving technology. Through the various evolutions in the realm of healthcare, medical professionals continue to navigate these changes expertly, with medical ethics at the forefront of their decision making.
In my thirty year career within the pharmaceutical industry, I have amassed a wide breadth of experiences within various positions, among many industry leading companies. Within these roles, I have interacted with Physicians, Surgeons, specialists, and nursing staff on a regular basis, and have seen the value of examining ethical considerations throughout daily operations, and on a long-term basis.
Many times, in bringing new treatments to market, my team had to navigate various ethical demands, like implementing pretreatment testing requirements that would alert patients of a treatment’s efficacy prior to accepting the treatment. In this case, eliminating the broader usage of this treatment allowed for a maximization of positive results, but resulted in fewer patients being eligible for treatment, garnering smaller profits for the manufacturer of the treatment. Leading with ethical considerations for the overall benefit of patients before all else, our team integrated this pretreatment testing requirement, which was met with positive results from the general medical community, and increased long-term trust in the company via the public’s eye.
Remembering The Hippocratic Oath
Throughout these unprecedented times, as medical professionals navigate uncharted territory, and work to perform their duties under stressful circumstances, remembering the Hippocratic Oath can be an integral tool for maintaining motivation to forge ahead, and to remain on the right track ethically. When dealing with ethical issues that are uniquely tied to the current pandemic, such as shortages of life-saving ventilator equipment, it is important for all members of the healthcare community to recall their oath to help others, to commit to the betterment of the quality of life for all people, and to uphold maximum standards of care above all else. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this may require proactive rallying for additional equipment, strict adherence to social distancing guidelines for eager hospital visitors, or other unique situations that require ethical thinking.
In my own experiences, I have found myself at the forefront of ethical deliberations in the pharmaceutical industry. Some ethically based applications have directly impacted profitability, or company growth, increasing my initial apprehension. As a young leader in charge of spearheading product launches, my desire to excel within my job motivated me greatly. However, when ethical contemplation came into play, I inherently knew that my apprehensions would have to dissipate, and my commitment to better the lives of people would have to lead the way. Throughout every seemingly difficult decision that I made, the end result was overwhelmingly positive when it came to medical ethics.
Recalling The Motivation To Help
For the frontline warriors in the fight against COVID-19, including nurses, Physicians, and hospital employees, the inherent motivation that led them to their respective careers is manifested daily through their experiences. However, there are various other professional entities driven by a similar inherent motivation to help others. Scientists, Biologists, and pharmaceutical industry professionals are committed to parlaying their skills to gather virus knowledge, create effective treatment options, and discover vaccines that could effectively eradicate the novel Coronavirus.
For all individuals within the broad healthcare field, during times of duress, recalling their inherent motivators for entering their respective fields can instill confidence to move forward within the throes of the pandemic. As the world awaits a viable treatment, and vaccine for COVID-19, the brilliant minds involved in the research needed to successfully bring these treatments into existence work diligently, passionately, and with commitment. Understanding their significant place in the fight against COVID-19, leaders in the healthcare realm can maintain daily motivation within the long-term goal of combatting COVID-19.
Racing To Treatment vs Extensive Testing
Typically, in order to successfully bring a breakthrough treatment to market, extensive testing must take place. In the span of many months, or even years, potential treatments undergo stringent lab testing to ensure efficacy, minimization of potential side effects, and long-term safety. Without this extensive series of testing, medications cannot be generally granted as being safe for human consumption. In the quest to cure previously untreatable conditions, healthcare professionals certainly look to expedite the process, maximize efficiency to limit redundant time loss, and successfully propel a treatment into the marketplace. However, though they may be eager, medical professionals must forge ahead ethically, recognizing the ethical need to undergo industry-standard testing prior to releasing a particular treatment.
In my experience with spearheading the launch of various Oncology related treatments, I have certainly felt the excitement of being able to provide new treatment that would essentially change the lives of countless individuals. Conversely, I have also understood the importance of ensuring a safe product launch, and minimizing any future risks to the patients who undertake the treatment option. Additionally, in order to successfully administer treatment, I have also considered the ethical importance of ensuring that patients feel confident about the actual treatment procedure. Especially prevalent in administering invasive Oncology treatment to children, giving consideration to their bespoke fears, or feelings of apprehension can help healthcare professionals to implement ethical considerations to best suit the needs of these patients.
For healthcare professionals currently involved in the groundbreaking work to find an effective cure, treatment, or vaccine for COVID-19, complying with testing standards while individuals are perishing can certainly cause a moral conundrum. While it may feel pressing to bring a treatment option to market immediately, any rush in standard testing processes may create long-term issues, side effects, or other negative impacts. Thus, from an ethical perspective, maintaining due diligence when it comes to bringing any treatment option to market is the only way to proceed forward without sacrificing safety.
While the medical industry continues to swiftly change, evolving in collaboration with technology, the concept of ruling through medical ethics remains unwavering. Though circumstances may change, considering the overall health, safety, privacy, and satisfaction of patients remains a priority that does not change. For medical professionals navigating the realm of the current Coronavirus pandemic, ethics come into play in numerous aspects of patient care, treatment development, and even daily operations. From securing needed equipment, to appropriately testing potential treatment options, medical professionals must ensure that their ethical guidelines and standards are upheld, even throughout these unprecedented times. Recalling their inherent commitment to bettering the lives of the public, these brave individuals will undoubtedly walk the line expertly, and remain at the forefront in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Follow Carsten Thiel on his website and Twitter.
