Professional choice as a moral dilemma for doctors in the context of COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic has added new semantic trend to the problem of the professional choice of doctors through a change in the conditions of their activities in the direction of intensifying tasks, complicating the possibilities for their implementation, and multiplying the uncertainty of the efforts made. The purpose of the study. Assessing the professional choice of doctors in the context of COVID-19 when solving moral dilemmas. Material and methods. The total sample size was four hundred twenty nine people (doctors of various surgical and therapeutic specialties) aged of 25–32 years. All doctors had at least 1.5 years of practical experience in COVID-19 conditions. The study was conducted using a questionnaire developed by the author, containing 24 moral dilemmas related to professional decision-making. Results. Regardless of the doctor’s profile, professional choice is made in favour of patients of the same gender as the doctor. At the same time, both male and female doctors strive to save young patients (up to 50 years old) with chronic diseases. At the same time, it should be noted that the profile (therapeutic or surgical) of a doctor and his specialty also influence the criteria for choosing professional decisions. Clear criteria in the situation of moral choice have not been established only in the group of ophthalmologists. Limitations. Excluded from participation in the study were pediatricians and dentists, as well as doctors who lack professional experience in the context of COVID-19. Conclusion. As a result of the study, it was found that regardless of the working conditions (in the red zone for COVID-19, in the green zone), both male and female doctors choose in favour of patients of the same gender. At the same time, doctors working in the red zone on COVID-19 make a professional choice in a situation of moral choice in favour of young patients of the same gender with chronic diseases. Physicians working in the green zone make the choice to rescue elderly patients of the same gender as physicians.