The view of Ethics and Bioethics on the health worker and health work in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil

Abstract

Abstract The article is about ethics and bioethics with a focus on the health worker and health work in the context of the pandemic of COVID-19 in Brazil. It brings in an unprecedented debate on social and economic inequalities, evidenced in the world, regarding access to vaccines, medicines, tests, PPE, among others, which brought suffering and death. The dispute for these products occurred on a global scale and producing countries closed their markets and commercial dependence led to dramatic situations. During the pandemic, several ethical issues were evidenced: conflicts, dilemmas, and ethical infractions occurred in different situations, such as in health care settings, in the relationship between managers and health care workers, within health care teams, and between health care teams and society. The article also brings the polemic debate whether the deaths caused by COVID-19 in Brazil should be seen as biological or social phenomena: fatality, homicide, mysthanasia or social euthanasia. The article concludes that in public management it is imperative that the Ethics of Responsibility and Humanization of Care be applied. In this context of uncertainties and challenges for humanity, it is fundamental the participation of society around an agenda guided by ethical principles, human dignity, environment, and democracy, with inclusive public and economic policies.