COVID-19, family, society, medicine – main topics of the international conference in Vitebsk

The main topic of the XVII International Conference "Problems of Medical Ethics in the Modern World", held in Vitebsk, was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medicine, society as a whole, and the family in particular.

About 10 countries participated in the traditional event, which is being held for the 17th time, both in person and online. Representatives of healthcare, secular authorities, and the church raised the pressing issue of the impact that COVID-19 has had on the global community. "The new disease has confused us. We used to believe that we were largely in control of medicine and new technologies, but it turned out that there is still much in the world that we do not know. Holding such conferences is important primarily for sharing experiences," noted Vladimir Terentyev, Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies.

The problem of medical ethics concerns not only the ethical standards of healthcare workers but also a whole range of issues. The ethical problems that arose against the backdrop of the pandemic can be conditionally divided into three blocks: the interaction between medicine and society, the principle of individual autonomy, and the organization of medical care. The first block examines issues of public information, the organization of volunteering to help medical workers, and the provision of psychological support to citizens, especially vulnerable categories – pensioners, the lonely, and people with disabilities. The second block involves issues of respect for and preservation of the individual, which in medicine is realized through the observance of medical confidentiality and the preservation of patient data confidentiality. The third block of problems affects not so much the narrow professional abilities of medical workers as issues of staff training in communication with patients, biomedical trials, resource allocation, etc. Taken together, all three blocks show how important it is to adhere to the rules of medical ethics not only during a pandemic but also during any other emergency situation.

"Issues of medical ethics are important for medical professionals of all specialties. In the context of the pandemic, the formation of moral principles, a conscientious attitude towards human health and life, and the development of communication strategies with patients and the media are of particular relevance. At this conference, doctors can share both international and their own scientific and practical experience," said Professor Alina Shchupakova, Vice-Rector for Academic and Clinical Affairs of the Vitebsk State Medical University (VSMU).

She added that during the pandemic, 400 university students voluntarily assisted healthcare workers. Staff from the university's clinical departments were assigned to each repurposed ward providing care for COVID-19 patients, where they conducted consultations and rounds. At VGMU, the simulation centre was repurposed to provide medical care for those infected with coronavirus, with a 100-bed ward established there. All medical work within the centre was carried out by university staff, while students were involved as auxiliary nursing staff.

Conference participants spoke extensively about the psychological impact of the pandemic and the enforced isolation regime on citizens worldwide. In this context, the issue of preserving the family was examined from both a medical and a spiritual perspective. The Apostolic Nuncio to Belarus, Archbishop Ante Jozić, announced that 2021 has been declared the Year of the Family in the Catholic Church. "A year and a half of the pandemic has shown how many countries have suffered economically and spiritually. The family has found itself at the epicentre of these epochal changes. During the pandemic, amidst psychological, economic, and medical challenges, family ties are being tested. However, at the same time, they continue to remain the pillar and core of society. The Church calls for the protection and preservation of the family," Ante Jozić noted.

He added that despite the crisis in the institution of marriage, the need for family has increased. The task facing the clergy is to accompany and listen to families, showing spouses that the Church supports them.

The conference also discussed aspects of nurses' activities, the impact of the pandemic on suicide rates, and raised the issue of COVID-19 prevention through a healthy lifestyle.

Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by