Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Mark Gordon

Abstract

The COVID-19 coronavirus has wreaked havoc on the world and medical community. Treating individuals during a worldwide pandemic is nothing short of heroic. With limited supplies and treatment options, healthcare professionals were forced to make ethical considerations when treating patients with COVID-19. The pandemic exposed stress in the healthcare system, leading to difficult ethical decisions such as providing access or denying access to treatment. Knowing these ethical considerations can assist healthcare professionals with practical policies for future pandemics. The key research question in this study explored how healthcare professionals in Southwest Ohio made ethical decisions related to who and how patients received treatment for COVID-19. This qualitative study used the punctuated equilibrium theory as the theoretical framework and semistructured interviews to investigate and understand ethical considerations encountered by the healthcare professionals in Southwest Ohio when treating patients with COVID. Interviews were transcribed, codes and themes were assessed. An analysis of the data from the fourteen interviews indicated stress related to the pandemic increased the number of ethical decisions for healthcare professionals. The COVID-19 pandemic created new ethical considerations such as the rationing of treatment, medication, and supplies by the federal government, which created barriers related to access. This study may provide positive social change in how healthcare professionals make ethical considerations to treat patients during COVID-19 and to prepare better healthcare policies for future pandemics.

Download

Included in

Public Policy Commons

Share

 
COinS