MEDICAL PROCEDURES AT THE END OF LIFE IN A PANDEMIC: A SPECIAL FOCUS ON THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (SARS-COV-2)

Abstract

Helping patients and their families prepare for the end of life is a privilege for physicians. Often these discussions are very sensitive; one must be able to navigate the complexities of dying while maintaining the strong, intimate relationship with a person who has entrusted the doctor with his or her final care. Many of the same principles of medical ethics still apply such as informed consent, acknowledging different degrees of health literacy, and cultural humility. With end-of-life care, physicians are responsible for providing their patients dignity in death. In doing so, it is important to decide how aggressive or intense medical treatment should be. There is evidence to suggest that early involvement of palliative care, foregoing invasive procedures or surgeries, and honest communication with families can improve the dying experience. The COVID-19 pandemic has only added more challenges to an already difficult art that physicians spend entire careers working on perfecting. Nevertheless, this provides even more reason to be proactive in determining what is most important for every individual in their final days.