tailieunhanh - Báo cáo y học: "Challenging beliefs and ethical concepts: the collateral damage of SARS"

Tuyển tập các báo cáo nghiên cứu về y học được đăng trên tạp chí y học Critical Care giúp cho các bạn có thêm kiến thức về y học đề tài: Challenging beliefs and ethical concepts: the collateral damage of SARS. | Available online http content 7 4 269 Commentary Challenging beliefs and ethical concepts the collateral damage of SARS Mark Bernstein1 and Laura Hawryluck2 1 Professor Department of Surgery University of Toronto and Division of Neurosurgery Toronto Western Hospital Toronto Ontario Canada 2Assistant Professor Critical Care Medicine University Health Network University of Toronto Ontario Canada Correspondence Mark Bernstein Published online 29 May 2003 Critical Care 2003 7 269-271 DOI cc2336 This article is online at http content 7 4 269 2003 BioMed Central Ltd Print ISSN 1364-8535 Online ISSN 1466-609X Abstract The recent SARS severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak exploded on an unsuspecting public and functionally paralyzed health care delivery systems in many countries. Cancer treatments were deferred and elective surgeries clinic visits and diagnostic tests were postponed. Other collateral damage includes the devastating psychological distress suffered by patients who were isolated from their families those same families who could not visit their ill loved ones patients awaiting access to various aspects of the health care system and health care workers. We are all starting to dig out and this process will take many months at a minimum and we may never completely return to the way we were. This commentary addresses the implications of a modern-day epidemic like SARS focusing on the intensive care unit setting with special attention given to the effect on health care workers. We explore some of the ethical challenges posed to relationships professional integrity and resource allocation. Keywords critical care ethical issues intensive care unit SARS Introduction SARS severe acute respiratory syndrome exploded on the face of the global village and on health care like a dormant volcano erupting in the dead of night. Members of the health care system and the public were caught off guard. Patients doctors .