Ethical challenges for women's healthcare highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Authors :: Bruno B
Shalowitz DI
Arora KS
Source :: Journal of medical ethics [J Med Ethics] 2021 Feb; Vol. 47 (2), pp. 69-72. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Oct 12.
Publication Year :: 2021
Abstract: Healthcare policies developed during the COVID-19 pandemic to safeguard community health have the potential to disadvantage women in three areas. First, protocols for deferral of elective surgery may assign a lower priority to important reproductive outcomes. Second, policies regarding the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 may not capture the complexity of the considerations related to pregnancy. Third, policies formulated to reduce infectious exposure inadvertently may increase disparities in maternal health outcomes and rates of violence towards women. In this commentary, we outline these challenges unique to women's healthcare in a pandemic, provide preliminary recommendations and identify areas for further exploration and refinement of policy.<br />Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.<br /> (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)