Covid-19: what do the codes of professional ethics say?

Souza, Tiago Pereira de; Avendano, Cibele Gulartt; Gomes, Erissandra

doi:10.1590/1983-80422021292467

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RESEARCH • Rev. Bioét. 29 (2) • Apr-Jun 2021 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-80422021292467 copy

Covid-19: what do the codes of professional ethics say?

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

The new coronavirus arrived in Brazil in February 2020, with a high rate of transmissibility and lethality. In view of this situation, the Ministry of Health issued Ordinance 639/2020, legitimizing the action “Brazil counts on me – health professionals,” to train and register professionals. In order to identify which professions, listed by the Ordinance, have in their Codes of Professional Ethics guidelines for the current situation and analyze the content found, this documentary research has an exploratory, descriptive nature and qualitative and quantitative character, presenting statistical and content analysis. The data were processed using specificity and similarity analysis techniques, using the Iramuteq software. Of the professions analyzed, presented in their code of ethics content related to covid-19: nursing, pharmacy, speech therapy, physiotherapy, psychology, social services and occupational therapy. The existing guidelines have little connection with the text of the committees, indicating deontological insufficiency.

Ethic; Bioethics; Codes of ethics; Health occupations; Epidemics; Pandemics

Code of Professional Ethics	Chapter	Article	Item	Text
Nursisng ²⁵	II and III	Articles 49 and 76		When summoned, provide nursing assistance to the community in cases of emergency, epidemic, catastrophe and disaster, without claiming personal advantages. Deny nursing care in urgent, emergency, epidemic, disaster and catastrophe situations, as long as it does not pose a risk to the professional’s physical integrity.
Pharmacy ¹⁵	II	Art. 11 - Pharmacists, during the time that they remain enrolled in a Regional Pharmacy Council, regardless of whether or not they are in the effective exercise of the profession, must:	II	Make their professional services available to the constituted authorities, if requested, in the event of internal social conflict, catastrophe or epidemic, regardless of whether or not there is remuneration or personal advantage.
Physical therapy ¹⁶	II	Art. 9 - The fundamental duties of the physiotherapists, according to their area and specific assignment, are:	V	Make their professional services available to the community in the event of war, catastrophe, epidemic or social crisis, without claiming personal advantage incompatible with the principle of bioethics of justice.
Speech Therapy ¹⁷	IV	Art. 7 - General ethical infractions of the speech therapists consist of:	XIV	Demanding personal and professional advantages when making their speech therapy services available to the community in cases of emergency, epidemic and catastrophe.
Psychology ²⁰	I	Article 1 - The fundamental duties of psychologists are:	d)	Provide professional services in situations of public calamity or emergency, without seeking personal benefit.
Social Services ²¹	II	Art. 3 The duties of the social worker are:	d)	Participate in programs to help the population in a situation of public calamity, in the care and defense of their interests and needs.
Occupational Therapy ²⁴	II	Art. 9 - The fundamental duties of the occupational therapists, according to their area and specific assignment, are:	V	Make their professional services available to the community in the event of war, catastrophe, epidemic or social crisis, without claiming personal advantage incompatible with the principle of bioethics of justice.

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[1] Correspondence Tiago Pereira de Souza – Rua Avaí, 119, torre 3, apt. 1003, Vila Rosa CEP 93315-090. Novo Hamburgo/RS, Brazil.