The bioethical concerns (e.g., autonomy and beneficence) implicated by public health measures in longterm care facilities during the pandemic have not been comprehensively examined. While some consequences attributed to the restrictions are measurable, others (e.g., negative physical and mental health effects on residents/families) have yet to be analyzed and some (e.g., reduced self-agency) may not even be recognized. Dr. Hlavka and his team will develop a more robust understanding of the challenges associated with visitation restrictions in a multi-method study to determine how better to make tradeoffs affecting the most vulnerable.
Evaluating the role of ethical, medical, and economic considerations in the suspension of in-person visits to long-term care residents during a pandemic
University of Southern California