SUSTAINING MEDICAL ETHICS AND INTEGRITY OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS DURING THE PANDEMIC

Abstract:

Ethics are the values and principles of a person, which bind the person to work with high moral standards. This paper discusses medical ethics and integrity maintained by healthcare providers. During Coronavirus Pandemic, the heart-wrenching conditions of people's ailments and the medical system's inadequate infrastructure made the system horrific for kith and kinds of patients seeking medical help during the crisis.  The apathy of the medical system and lack of medical practitioners led to an emergency-like situation. There were long queues of patients seeking medical assistance. People formed a line to refill oxygen cylinders, medicines and other supplies. Medical equipment, drugs, and oxygen cylinders were black-market during an emergency. The helplessness of not getting the cylinders, treatment, medication, and shortage of medical equipment was given a path to unethical deeds. Patients and Doctors were in a dilemma. Doctors were worried they did not meet their family members after being exposed to viruses. Patients were concerned because they were overcharged. The doctors treating them were also trying the hit-and-trial method because contagious diseases like coronavirus never appeared during their medical study and practice. Hence, the study aims to explore some remedial measures for sustaining ethical standards during the Pandemic. It is an exploratory paper. The study findings reveal that there should be some specific guidelines that health providers must follow.