Patient care and staff well-being in oncology during the coronavirus pandemic – Ethical considerations

Abstract

[...]the initiation of radiation may be delayed for diseases such as hormone-sensitive breast cancer and low-risk prostate cancer, where alternative initial approaches may be utilised, and the delay to definitive therapy has not been shown to negatively influence outcomes. If any front-line health professionals feel anxious about the levels of protection available to them, they should, as a first step, raise their concerns with their managers and their human resources department. There are both negative and positive influences on our ability to make decisions to support patient care.2 Negative influences We must evaluate treatment recommendation based on clinical or disease-related factors, and not the so-called social worth.