COVID-19, family, society, medicine - the main topics of the international conference in Vitebsk
About 10 countries participated in the traditional event, which is 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 of COVID-19 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 we do not know about the world. 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. Three blocks of ethical problems that arose against the backdrop of the pandemic can be conditionally identified: the interaction between medicine and society, the principle of personal autonomy, and the organization of medical care. The first block examines issues of informing the public, organizing volunteer assistance for medical professionals, and providing psychological support to citizens, especially vulnerable categories such as the elderly, lonely individuals, and people with disabilities. The second block involves issues of respect for and preservation of the individual, which in medicine is realized through adherence to medical confidentiality and the preservation of patient data confidentiality. The third block of problems concerns not so much the narrow professional abilities of medical workers as issues of training staff in communication with patients, conducting 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 in any other emergency situation.
"Issues of medical ethics are important for healthcare professionals of all specialties. In the context of the pandemic, the formation of moral principles, a conscientious attitude towards human health and life, the development of communication and interaction 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 Medical Affairs of 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 department where patients with COVID-19 were treated, providing consultations and conducting rounds. At VSMU, the simulation center was repurposed to provide medical care for those infected with coronavirus, with a 100-bed unit deployed there. All medical work in this unit was carried out by university staff, while students served as auxiliary medical personnel.
Conference participants extensively discussed the psychological impact of the pandemic and forced isolation on citizens worldwide. In this regard, the issue of preserving the family was examined from both medical and spiritual perspectives. 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 epicenter 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 be the support and core of society. The Church calls for protecting and preserving the family," Ante Jozić noted.
He also added that despite the crisis in the institution of marriage, the need for family has increased. The task facing clergy is to accompany and listen to families, showing spouses that the Church supports them.
The conference also discussed other aspects of nursing, the impact of the pandemic on suicide rates, and raised the issue of COVID-19 prevention through a healthy lifestyle.